Housing Headlines

DENNIS --- An attorney for the Town of Dennis argued that town-owned lot that was conveyed for the development of a five-bedroom home for military veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless can be built upon because the purpose of the town's affordable housing bylaw "is to take lots that would otherwise be unbuildable and unusable and use them for the productive purpose of creating affordable housing.” In 2016, a neighbor sued to stop the project, saying the town had classified the lot as "unbuildable." The lawyer for the town, Jackie Cowin, cited the town's bylaw during a hearing in state Appeals Court, urging the judge to uphold a previous Land Court decision in favor of the town.

WORCESTER --- Reporter Cyrus Moulton looks into sober houses in Worcester and Fitchburg which are part of a case in state Superior and federal court challenging whether lodging house permit requirements discriminate against or protect the disabled.

HANOVER --- The owners of the Hanover Mall are another step closer to bringing 297 apartments to Hanover to the back of the property where the cinema now sits, as the zoning board of appeals has OK'd a height variance that will allow buildings to go above the 35-foot, three-story limit to 53 feet or four stories. A meeting with the planning board is the next step.

ACTON --- Selectmen have voted to back a proposal by the Acton Housing Authority to build 31 affordable apartments for seniors and the disabled at a parcel of land on Main St. that the town acquired in 2016. The proposal still must be OK'd at town meeting.

BROCKTON --- In the basement of the Brockton library, a mix of residents, real estate professionals and local leaders held a discussion called "Is Gentrification Occurring in Brockton." The discussion centered on recent data showing that the median price of a single-family has nearly doubled since 2012, 25 percent of the whites have moved out since 2010 while the black and Latino populations have increased by 9 and 24 percent respectively.

BEVERLY --- Harborlight Community Partners cleared the first procedural hurdle in getting local funds for the first phase of its Anchor Point housing development as the city's Community Preservation Committee has recommended spending $250,000 in CPA funds to support the construction of 38 two- and three-bedroom apartments. The spending must still get the OK of the city council.