Housing Headlines

EVERETT --- One year after a solicitation for development proposals drew little interest, city officials are now preparing to to evaluate five redevelopment proposals for Everett Square, a 67-acre site that includes a city parking lost and an aging row of commercial buildings (paywall).

NEWTON --- Newton's 2.5 mile Washington Street corridor runs parallel to the Mass Pike and the commuter rail. Some new housing is rising. Other low-slung sites are ripe for the picking. But, a proposal to rezone this stretch for more housing and taller buildings is pitting supporters of growth and affordability against those who fear the city is getting too big.

CAMBRIDGE --- In an effort to break the cycle of poverty, the Cambridge Housing Authority's Work Force program coordinates early-life interventions to ensure that graduating from high school and college, and finding full-time employment is attainable for about 280 young participants, all of whom live in Cambridge’s subsidized housing.

AMHERST --- Residents at two apartment complexes remain frustrated and worried about where they are going to live following an announcement by the University of Massachusetts last week that residents have until June 30, 2020 to move out so that the properties can be demolished and rebuilt as part of a $200 million project that will create apartments for 730 undergraduates and 165 graduate students. Slated for closing are the Lincoln and North Village apartments, the latter or which will mean the displacement of families in 170 apartments.

NEWTON --- After serving for nine years as Needham’s Economic Development Director, Devra Bailin has announced she is leaving to do the same job in Newton. During Bailin's tenure, the N Squared Innovation District - home of Trip Advisor - took shape and Needham rezoned commercial areas near Route 128 to allow housing, an effort which MHP cited in 2016 when it awarded the town one of its annual Housing Hero awards.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll continues to be a strong supporter of affordable housing, penning another editorial in the Salem News calling for the legislature to pass Gov. Charlie Baker's Housing Choice proposal., Driscoll, who accepted an MHP Housing Hero Award for the city back in June, co-wrote a similar editorial last spring with Governor Baker.