Housing Headlines

CHICOPEE --- The town will use a state grant to pursue an 'urban village' concept for downtown Chicopee. If approved, the smart growth district will include 20 percent affordable housing.

HARWICH --- Affordable housing efforts will receive the majority of Community Preservation Act funding this year, if voters approve the community preservation committee's funding recommendations.

According to housing poll conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute and Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), there is strong statewide support for the construction of affordable housing, with a majority of residents hoping that Governor Deval Patrick will make affordable housing a high priority in his administration.

MARLBOROUGH --- After a lull in housing construction, the town prepares for a comeback, with plans to begin three efforts that will result in over 400 units.

LOWELL --- Residents of a local rooming house join housing advocates in expressing fears that residential construction efforts being planned in the city will fail to include affordable housing and inevitably lead to gentrification and loss of affordability throughout Lowell.

SANDWICH --- The town has approved a controversial plan that will develop 47 acres of former farmland into low-income housing and will include 10 rooms for homeless Sandwich residents.