Housing Headlines

ATTLEBORO - Noting that housing is a priority of Governor Charlie Baker and that North Attleboro’s affordable count is 2.6 percent, the town's economic development coordinator wants attracting affordable housing added to his job description. Town Administrator Michael Gallagher agreed with Lyle Pirnie's suggestions, saying, "Housing and economic development go hand in hand."

NEWTON --- Citing what the Lynn Housing Authority is planning to do with its local armory, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is proposing to convert the historic armory in West Newton into affordable housing. To move this idea forward, Newton would have to buy the armory from the state at a cost of 25 percent of the property's $4.3 million assessed value.

MALDEN --- The former 17.6 acre Malden Hospital site remains in limbo, with a private corporation vying to build 250 homeownership units and a local group hoping to get local funds so it can preserve 16 acres as open space. The private group - best known for developing Pinehills in Plymouth - has a purchase-and-sale agreement to buy the site and the developer - Tony Green - says the development would mean $1.5 million in tax revenue to the City of Malden annually. But the developer needs the city to approve a zoning change to move forward.

WESTON --- With at least three housing proposals totaling 600 apartments before the town, the Weston School Committee is looking at what the impact might be, saying declining enrollment would enable the system to handle some increase in students due to new housing, but that all three proposals would have considerable impact on town finances.

CARLISLE --- Several years of conflicts between the Board of Selectmen and the Carlisle Housing Authority board finally ended this spring as Carlisle Town Meeting voted to abolish the board, which had resigned en masse last fall to emphasize the town's lack of progress on housing. The board managed no units but has been a voice in supporting affordable housing developments in concert with the town's housing trust and housing coordinator, a position that was eliminated from the town budget by selectmen about two years ago.

SAUGUS --- First, developers altered their plans to preserve the habitat of Spotted Tiger Beetles. Now, Toll Brothers may have to postpone its plans to build its 300-unit Saugus Ridge housing development because the state is recommending that an archaeological review be done to see if the site contains Native American artifacts.