Housing Headlines

A study of nearly 200 Boston area apartment buildings inside Route 128 found that about 30 percent of their parking spaces go unused, even in the evening when most residents are likely home. Commissioned by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, experts say the study is indicative that parking requirements are often too high and needlessly drive up the cost of new housing, as each space adds approximatelhy $15,000 to the project cost, according to the report.

EASTHAM --- Over 100 people packed the Eastham Elks Lodge recently to get information about the Village at Nauset Green, a 65-unit mixed-income housing complex currently in construction and due to begin the lease-up process very soon. MHP has committed a $4.4 million in long-term (40 years) financing to the project. Also noteworthy is the level of local support: In addition to providing the land to Pennrose through a 99-year ground lease, Eastham put in $1.45 million in local funds while Orleans and Wellfleet contributed $100,000.

BRAINTREE --- Braintree's claim that it has met one of the "safe harbor" provisions of the state's Chapter 40B housing law was denied by the state, which ruled that less than 1.5 percent of the city's general land is used for affordable housing. Braintree had claimed it had met the 1.5 percent threshold and could deny Ch. 40B applications.

AMHERST --- Despite neighbor concerns about level of services, Amherst OKs $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to support the Valley Community Development Corporation's plan to build 28 single-room apartments for low-income individuals. According to the plan, eight rooms will be for individuals who make under $32,000 per year and 10 will be for individuals who make under $19,000 per year.

BOSTON --- The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has denied a request by Thomas Walsh for further appellate review of his case against the town of Dennis and the Dennis Planning Board, which in September 2016 granted a special permit for the five-bedroom home in accordance with a local affordable housing zoning bylaw. Lawyer Wayne Bergeron, a former Dennis selectman who continues to represent the project, credited the outcome of the case to the persistence of the Board of Selectmen and project volunteers.

NEWTON --- Mark Development's plan to include an 18-story mixed-use building in its 675-unit proposal at the Riverside MBTA station and an adjoining site has been called a non-starter by Councilor-at-Large Leonard Gentile. Meanwhile, members of the Lower Falls Improvement Association countered with their own zoning suggestions, saying buildings along Route 128 could be a maximum 10 to 11 stories high, with buildings along the local Grove Street road no more than four stories.