Housing Headlines

MEDFORD --- Following communities like Somerville, the Medford City Council has passed a zoning change requiring large new housing developments to include affordable housing. The measure, which needs to be OK'd by Mayor Stephanie Burke - would only apply to developments that add at least 10 new housing units. The percentage of units that are required to be affordable varies based on project size, ranging from 10-percent affordable for 10-unit developments to 15-percent affordable for developments of 50 units or more.

CHELSEA --- The city's planning board has unanimously recommended that the city council OK a smart growth zoning district that is a key piece of the plan to redevelop the Innes public housing property. The plan involves Corcoran Development partnering with the Chelsea Housing Authority to renovate the existing 96 public housing units while adding 40 middle-income units and 194 market rate units.

FOXBORO --- The Town of Foxboro has announced that four developers have showed interest in redeveloping the downtown fire station and an adjacent funeral home into a mixed-use development that may include some affordable housing. Among the bidders were experienced housing developer Doug King of Easton and a development team that includes Traggorth Companies of Boston.

WELLESLEY --- A state review has found that the Wellesley and Needham housing authorities - who have a management sharing agreement - have been lax in screening tenants, with files missing such things as eligibility forms, background checks and rent determinations. The state also found that in at least one occasion, tenants were housed who were not at the top of the waiting list and some tenants were paying zero rent without having any income or asset verification done.

PITTSFIELD ---To help homeowners with exterior renovations, Mayor Linda Tyler has proposed $250,000 in city funds to start a program in which the city would partner with local banks to provide zero-interest home improvement loans. The program, called At Home in Pittsfield, would help residents who make no more than $87,480 annually and who own — or are looking to own — owner-occupied residences with no more than four residential units.

LOWELL --- The number of students who are living in shelters, with other families or on the street has risen according to a report from the Lowell Public Schools, The school department is reporting that five percent (825 students) fall into one of these three categories as of March 1 and that 982 homeless students have been enrolled since the start of the year, a 20 percent increase over last year.