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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CHELMSFORD --- Not having reached the required 10 percent affordable housing requirement, the town approved a proposal for a 59-unit 40B effort. Selectmen had already reduced the size of the effort, and the developer expressed disapproval of a further size reduction, saying that it would compromise the effort's affordability.