Housing News Roundup

Haverhill: Rental complex at former shoe factory opens HAVERHILL --- State and local officials recently celebrated the opening of a four-building 40R rental complex on the former site of a shoe factory. The Hamel Mill Lofts will contain 305 one- and two-bedroom rental units with 20 percent of the units designated as affordable. Affordable rents will range from $740 to $1,800 per month.

Rockland: Officials propose new senior center and affordable units ROCKLAND --- Towns officials are working on plans to create a new senior center and a 40-50 unit affordable housing complex on 12 acres between Albion Court and Norman Street. The town received the land as a gift and is currently looking for state and federal grants to cover the project's construction and operating costs.

Boston: Proposal for 500-unit West End development BOSTON --- Equity Residential developers recently announced a proposed plan to raze the Garden Garage on Lomsaney Way and replace the structure with a new mixed-use development. The new complex would consist of two towers with up to 500 rental units and ground-floor retail and underground parking. Equity is expected to initiate the formal city development review process this fall.

Lawrence: 75-unit development to begin construction in the fall LAWRENCE --- Winn Development recently announced that work will begin on the Malden Mills complex sometime this fall. The complex will consist of 75-units of housing in two rehabilitated former mill buildings on 11 acres of land. 72 of the 75 housing units will be designated as affordable with monthly rents ranging from $900 to $1,100. The site will also include retail and office space to be constructed at a later date by College Street Management.

Arlington: HCA buys 3 buildings to convert into 32 affordable units ARLINGTON --- The Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA) recently signed a purchase and sale agreement to buy three apartment buildings and convert them into 32 units of affordable housing. The town will provide funding for this project through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and HCA also plans on applying for state funding in September.

Boston: BRA approves 2 developments; 277 new units BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) board recently approved plans for two new mixed-use developments in Boston neighborhoods. The first project, a 21-story mixed-use building in the South Boston Waterfront neighborhood named The Waterside Place, will consist of 234 residential units and 72,000 square feet of retail space. The second project, known as the Dudley Greenville project, will consist of 43 rental units as well 3,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. All residential units in the Dudley Greenville project will be affordable to residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income.

Lowell: Appleton Mills lottery schedule announced LOWELL --- A residential project that will be completed in April has set a schedule to field applications and host a lottery for 130 units of affordable housing units that will cater to the local artist community. Applications for the $60 million project will be accepted starting in November with the lottery being held in early January.

Berlin: Multi-use development project begins construction BERLIN --- The developers of the Riverbridge project recently began work on the 470,000 square foot development that will turn 26 acres of a former farm into commercial and residential space. The completed project will include 130,000 square feet of commercial space for offices, retail shops, and restaurants, 115 apartments and condominiums, and a 175,000 square foot continuing-care retirement community.

Framingham: 3 affordable properties available in lottery FRAMINGHAM --- The town recently completed renovations on three homes and are inviting the public to enter lotteries to purchase these properties. Two three-bedroom homes, with prices ranging from $217,000 to $225,000, are included in the lottery as well as one condominium unit, available for $75,000. A public information session is scheduled for Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Building's Blumer Room and all applications are due by September 29.

Somerville: State to sell land to HA; create 26 senior units SOMERVILLE --- The state legislature recently passed a bill allowing the Somerville Housing Authority (SHA) to turn an unused piece of land into 26 units of affordable senior housing. The proposed development space is adjacent to the Visiting Nurse Assocation (VNA) senior assisted living facility and SHA's Capen Court project.