Housing Headlines

What's under the covers of Governor Charlie Baker's $240 million economic development package? An unusual amount of focus housing, writes the Globe's Jon Chesto, who has regularly chronicled the Baker Administration's efforts to move the housing production needle. Chesto notes that in addition to proposing funding for everything from transit oriented development to climate resilient construction to more housing in gateway cities, Baker slipped in a version of his Housing Choice legislation, which his administration has been trying to pass for two years.

NEWTON --- Reaction to Newton voters okaying an 800-unit mixed-use project has ranged from developers applauding the coalition that pushed for the project and detractors wondering whether any of the mitigation built into the project will ease traffic on an already congested Needham Street corridor. One developer attempted to thread the needle between the two sides. "This vote is not a free pass for developers to ignore community concerns, even if those issues reflect the opinion of a smaller group of neighbors,” said Newton developer Robert Korff, who is developing housing on Washington Street and hopes to develop the Riverside MBTA station. "I still believe that the best results always comes from listening to the entire community and to do one’s best to address those concerns.”

DUXBURY --- In reaction to a plan by Banner Construction of Wayland to build anywhere from 100 to over 200 apartments or townhouses on the Harrington property on Temple Street, the Duxbury Board of Selectmen has called for a special Town Meeting in March to ask voters whether the town should purchase the property for $2.25 million or take it by eminent domain. According to the Duxbury Clipper, the town could use Community Preservation Act funds to purchase the site.

BROCKTON --- Well-told feature by Brockton Enterprise's Ben Berke, who traces the life of Carol Roberts, a longtime Polaroid employee who lost her retirement when the company went bankrupt. She ended up in public housing, where her daily generosity has earned her recognition from the state legislature and the unofficial title of "mayor" of Caffrey Towers senior public housing.

HAVERHILL --- As Mayor James Fiorentini works to sell a city-owned 4.8 acre property along the Merrimack River for a mixed-use 290-unit housing development, residents are starting to ask questions about local impacts, including whether the apartments will be affordable to Haverhill residents. The Procopio Companies of Lynnfield are looking to buy the site for $1 million and propose to build one- and two-bedroom units, possibly with some work force housing. The proposal for the site - a former factory site on the Bradford side of the river - is larger than proposals offered by Princeton Properties and East Boston-based NOAH in 2018.

ATTLEBORO --- With a new owner from Florida jacking up rents as much as 47 percent at one of the city's eight trailer parks, the City Council has taken the first step toward establishing a trailer park rent control board as the ordinance committee has sent a resolution to the council for a vote. If it passes, the measure would have to be approved by Mayor Paul Heroux, and the state legislature.