Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- In Mattapan, some residents are diving into the fine print of the city'z zoning laws to figure out how three homes on their dead end street are being redeveloped into 20 condominiums.

QUINCY – Neighbors concerned about a 465-unit residential development proposed for the former Quincy Hospital site say they’ll continue to push for fewer units, but Quincy-based FoxRock Properties are indicating they’re sticking with their plan and are ready to build.

WEYMOUTH --- Developer Ken Ryder's latest attempt to develop 10 acres near two train stops was called "capricious and inappropriate" by Matthew Tallon, president of the local neighborhood group called the Idlewell Education Assocation. Having previously proposed to turn five vacant parcels into 14 single-family lots, Ryder is proposing this time to apply to the town for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land permit so he can build 67 two- and three-bedroom mixed-income townhouses.

Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung makes an impassioned plea for Gov. Baker's Housing Choice legislation, arguing that "when the T breaks down, we can watch the agony unfold on social media (but) we don’t see it when people can’t afford the rent ... "

CHELSEA --- The City Council passed an order calling for a home rule petition that would give the council the option to hand over properties seized for nonpayment of taxes to the city's affordable housing trust. The measure now needs to be approved in the state legislature. Currently, the city is required to offer up any properties taken for the nonpayment of taxes at auction to the highest bidder. The council would maintain that option.

RANDOLPH --- Gov. Baker, his veterans' secretary Francisco Urena and other state and local leaders gathered recently to break ground on 10 permanent apartments for veterans. The housing will be owned and operated by Father Bill's and Main Spring, with support from the state and Envision Bank, which is supporting the acquisition and construction of the project. “We’re a small bank. We can’t cure the ills of the world but we can take a small piece,” said Jim McDonough, the president and CEO of Envision Bank.