Housing Headlines

ACTON --- As town leaders look to increase the affordable housing inventory in town, they have turned to the Community Preservation Act as a resource. Acton has begun a program using CPA funds to buy down the price of existing condominiums and place affordable restrictions on them - the first of its kind in the state.

WOBURN --- To supplement the affordable housing fund that the city established back in November, city officials have passed an amendment so that developers proposing to build more than two units must include 10 percent affordable housing in their plans. Developers can choose to buy out of the amendment by paying a fee that will be placed in the fund and used for housing.

NATICK --- The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved South Natick Hills, a 40B effort that will add 268 units of housing and exempt the town from any additional proposals until 2008. Officials are considering two other 40B proposals which would add approximately 100 additional units and thereby excuse the town from having to accept any 40B proposals for an additional year.

WEST BRIDGEWATER --- At town meeting, officials approved the Community Preservation Act (CPA), passing a one percent tax surcharge to raise funds for community housing, open space, and historical preservation. If approved at town elections next year, West Bridgewater could be the 128th town to pass the CPA in Massachusetts.

WALTHAM --- The Waltham Housing Authority has approved a fiscal plan to spend nearly $500,000 awarded by the federal government to upgrade 265 federal housing units in the city. The housing authority expects it will also receive up to $10 million from the state to modernize the city's 516 state-subsidized units.

CAPE COD --- State officials and local business leaders announced a $500,000 pilot program to help make housing more affordable for Cape workers. The money will be used to help between 50 and 75 families earning no more than 110 percent of the area median income pay certain housing costs, like down-payments or closing costs.