Housing Headlines

Citing a just-released Federal Reserve Bank of Boston study which revealed that the state has twice as many extremely low-income households as apartments to put them in, the Eagle-Tribune says this should be a wake-up call for communities by asking, "how much worse does the state's affordable housing crisis have to get before communities are moved to act."

WESTON --- On the heels of hearing about a 180-unit housing proposal on Route 20 near the Wayland line, selectmen spent a second consecutive meeting learning about a housing proposal, this a 275-unit plan called Hanover Weston that would be built on Route 30 near the high school. All told, there are four housing proposals that are seeking Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permits. The other two are an 80- to 125-unit senior development at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary and 150 units at 104 Boston Post Road, which is currently under appeal.

QUINCY --- Sampan reporter Valerie Sizhe Li heads to Quincy and talks to residents about the imbalance of housing choices. One resident said there are too many luxury lofts and that "there should be a balance between luxury and affordable housing. For real home buyers, having a gym in the building is not a top priority.”

WORCESTER --- Calling it one of the city's biggest problems, City Councilor Matt Wally has called for the creation for a registry for non-owner-occupied residential buildings. The council has supported the call for the city to develop a registry but to be wary of creating a system that could cause landlords to raise rents.

FRAMINGHAM --- The flurry of activity to develop downtown housing near the commuter rail is continuing with the recent grand opening of 24 one- and two-bedroom apartments at the historic Amsden Building. Developed by VTT Management, rents range from 425-square-foot units renting for $1,625 to 775-square-foot units going for $2,200. The Amsden Apartments are one piece of a broad vision to improve the city’s downtown. VTT Management controls some 445 apartments in the area, many of which were rehabbed in recent years.

LENOX --- The nonprofit Berkshire Housing Development Corp., in partnership with the Community Development Corp. of South Berkshire, has been chosen by the town to build a $15 million, 50-unit mixed-income rental development on six acres of a 19-acre town site.