Housing Headlines

NEWTON --- Beginning in 2021, officials held community events and solicited feedback on a plan to meet requirements of the state law mandating more multifamily housing in communities served by the MBTA. Now, however, support for the city’s plan may be cooling. In the Nov. 7 local election, five newcomers won City Council seats after being backed by groups critical of the development plans.

NEWTON --- With weeks left before a state-imposed deadline, Greater Boston cities and towns are in the home stretch to comply with the historic MBTA Communities Law and enact new zoning plans to allow more housing development. The town of Newton is among them.

HOLYOKE --- The Holyoke Redevelopment Authority is working with Winn Development to create 88 units of affordable housing for people 55 and older at the former Farr Alpaca Mills site. The first phrase of the Residences on Appleton is expected to be completed by spring 2025. The one- and two-bedroom units will be designed to be affordable to those making 30 to 80 percent of area median income.

BROOKLINE --- Town Meeting members voted by an overwhelming margin to rezone commercial districts for significantly more apartment and condo construction near its public transit stops. The vote was the result of a coordinated campaign by housing and social justice advocates who pressed the town to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, requiring multifamily zoning near public transit to address the region’s housing crisis.

BOSTON --- The Mayor’s Office of Housing joined state agencies, housing advocates and developers for the grand opening of Morton Station Village, a mixed-income development in Mattapan. The property has been transformed into 40 new homes. The units consist of 28 rental apartments and 12 homeownership condos for individuals and families with incomes ranging from 30 to 100 percent of AMI.

PELHAM --- Construction of the first affordable apartments in Pelham is underway at 20-22 Amherst Road. Groundbreaking comes after a lengthy process of putting together the funding and getting a comprehensive permit under the state’s Chapter 40B law. The $22 million project will provide housing for 34 families when it is complete in early 2025.