Housing Headlines

SHREWSBURY --- AvalonBay Communities developers recently informed town manager Daniel Morgado that the large Shrewsbury Hills project will be put on hold and re-evaluated after the first of the year. AvalonBay principal Michael Roberts noted that "the adverse credit markets have cause [the] company to rethink the project." Selectmen gave AvalonBay the approval to go ahead with its plans and the state granted site eligibility, but the developers never applied for a comprehensive permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Shrewsbury Hills would be a 444-unit mixed income rental community on 36.4 acres off CenTech Boulevard and Green Street.

NORTH ANDOVER --- At the end of December, Avalon Properties informed the town that they will no longer develop 530 affordable rental units on 32 acres of vacant land located at Osgood Landing. Scott Dale, vice president of development for Avalon Properties, told the Eagle-Tribune that the project was a victim of the housing market collapse and inability to reach an agreement with property owner Orit Goldstein. The breakdown of the development deal is blow to the town because they have already received and committed $600,000 from the state for approving a zoning change on the property to allow a mix of affordable housing and retail uses. The town will have to pay back the money if the land is not developed within the next few years.

BOSTON --- A state web site has been redesigned to make it easier for people with disabilities to find accessible housing. Located at www.massaccesshousingregistry.org, the new site features vacant and wait list information for affordable rental housing in Massachusetts, including housing for those with disabilities. The site also provides the ability for property managers and landlords post available rental units. "This is a win-win for consumers looking for housing that meet their needs and for housing owners and managers who want to rent their units as quickly as possible," said Tina Brooks, the state's undersecretary for housing. The online registry is funded by the state and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. It is managed by the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association.

OAKS BLUFF --- Earlier this month, voters rejected a proposal to rescind $400,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding previously approved by voters for the Bradley Square affordable housing project. The 11-unit project is slated for the corner of Dukes County Avenue and Masonic Avenue. Some community members asserted that the town did not provide selectmen sufficient time to analyze the project or hold enough public hearings. A Department of Housing and Community Development spokesman said the state agency is satisfied the applicants have followed all necessary procedures, allowing the project to move forward.

BOSTON --- Nuestra Comunidad has acquired a 3-decker house at 21 Dacia Street in Dorchester. The community development corporation plans to renovate the home, rent the apartments and eventually sell the property when the real estate market recovers. Nuestra hopes to purchase about 12 multi-family properties to continue its revitalization of this neighborhood and to stop decay due to foreclosure. Financing for Nuestra's efforts is coming from the state's Neighborhood Stabilization Loan Fund, a program supported by the Patrick Administration, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp., the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, the Boston Foundation and the Hyams Foundation.

NORTHAMPTON --- The state agency responsible for overseeing the redevelopment of the former Northampton State hospital has received initial approval to add 100 more units. The local Citizens' Advisory Council recently OK'd the request by MassDevelopment, boosting the project's total to 307. A MassDevelopment official explained that the project was shifting away from its original plan, which included 20 large estate lots, and is now proposing to build smaller, less expensive homes in greater numbers. The new request still has to be approved by the city's planning board.