Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced that they will provide $11.3 million for two elderly affordable rental projects in Dorchester and West Roxbury. In Dorchester, the Neustra Comunidad Development Corp. will receive $5.3 million for 40 new units at the proposed Quincy Commons development. In West Roxbury, the proposed Cheriton Heights development will receive $6 million for the creation of 70 new units. Both projects are awaiting approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

NORTH ADAMS --- Scarafoni Associates recently expanded its real-estate holdings in Berkshire County with the purchase of Berkshire Landings, an affordable housing complex off Union Street. The 25-unit complex will receive federal funding from the Department of Agriculture in order to maintain affordability. David Carver, managing partner of Scarafoni Associates, said the company would embark on a multiple-year improvement plan starting in the spring

TOWNSEND --- Earlier this month, the ZBA approved the draft plan for a 40B, 100 percent affordable elderly housing complex. The complex, Atwood Elder Housing, would consist of 36 one-bedroom affordable units open to people at least 60 years or older.

BELMONT --- Erland Construction, Inc. recently completed the construction of the Waverly Woods affordable residential complex. The rental development features a mix of 40 one, two, and three-bedroom garden and townhouse-style apartments in six buildings.

LAWRENCE --- Mo Vaughn's development company, Omni New York LLC, recently bought the 168-unit affordable apartment complex Sycamore Village. Developers plan to maintain the complex as affordable housing, and invest up to $6 million in renovations.

CHICOPEE --- HallKeen Management Inc. developers are awaiting the distribution of additional historic building tax credits to fund the major redevelopment of the 180-year old Ames Privilege building. The project has already received a partial award of $1 million in historic building tax credits to add 46 apartments to the 94 unit complex. The next round of tax credit applications are likely to come out in the spring.