Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The Asian Community Development Corp. and the New Boston Fund are close to signing a lease agreement with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority that would create 324 units of housing in Chinatown. Of the units, half of them would be affordable condos and rentals. Altogether, the effort will double Chinatown's current owner-occupancy rate.

Pepperell --- Selectmen and residents have expressed initial approval of a developer's proposal to build a 56-unit "friendly 40B" on 17.5 acres of land in Pepperell. According to selectmen, the developer Etchstone Properties, Inc., has not only incorporated town input in the effort, but will also provide the town with a much-sought resource -- a third well site.

The Federal Home Loan Bank announced more than $18 million in funds to support 23 affordable housing efforts in the first round of its 2007 Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The funds will create or preserve 629 rental and ownership units throughout New England, including 10 efforts to create or preserve 224 units in Massachusetts. Click here and scroll down to view the Massachusetts awards.

CHICOPEE --- One year after a federal audit disclosed that the city had not properly dispersed federal funds for housing, the mayor has announced that the former housing director of Springfield has been hired as a housing policy consultant. Kathleen Lingenberg resigned from her post last month after 11 years because she had moved from the city and was no longer in compliance with its residency requirement for employees.

WILMINGTON --- The latest proposal to develop a land parcel abutting Lake Street has been approved by the zoning board. Members say that while previous developers had planned to build over 100 units on the 6.3 acre site, the current 'low impact' proposal fits nicely with the town's character. The effort will include 12 detached houses and two duplexes, open space, and rain gardens.

WESTFORD --- With a $500,000 federal HOME grant administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, the Westford Housing Authority is ready to move forward with the construction of 36 units of senior housing.