Housing Headlines

CAPE COD --- While many Cape towns have made progress in their commitment to housing, a Cape Cod Times article suggests that Cape communities need to take bolder steps towards building affordable housing, including perhaps consolidating their housing offices into one large regional housing authority.

MARSHFIELD --- Residents at town meeting voted in favor of an inclusionary zoning bylaw, giving developers who wish to build more than eight units the option of including affordable housing or giving the town cash to fund programs to help lower-income residents purchase homes.

FRAMINGHAM --- A MetroWest Daily News editorial credits Framingham, Marlborough and Natick for reaching or nearing the 10 percent mark for affordable housing, not just for how they got there but for providing homes that residents can more easily afford.

MARLBOROUGH --- The Community Development Authority board has hired Diane Sullivan as executive director, ending its seven-year stretch without a full-time chief administrator. Sullivan is currently in charge of the state brownfields program for MassDevelopment. CDA board member Michael Hogan, formerly the executive director of MassDevelopment, said Sullivan's first task will be to renew the city's ability to use the federally-funded Community Development Block Grant program. The state has not permitted the city to use the program due to reported concerns about mismanagement.

WORCESTER --- The Telegram & Gazette raises the question about the potential in amending 40B legislation to give communities greater control over density while allowing for more affordability.

SHARON --- After the state pulled the plug on a 40B proposal because of over-stated land values, the developer is now considering plans for a traditional 18-lot subdivision instead of the 52 unit effort which would have included affordable housing.