Housing Headlines

WAYLAND --- Developer Chris D'Antonio's attempt to get a Ch. 40B land use permit so he can a single-family lot into 12 mixed-income apartments is hinging on whether he can convince the state to let him build a septic system 62 feet from wetlands. The state requirement is 50 feet but Wayland regulations say septic systems must be 100 feet from wetlands.

ALLSTON --- The longtime owner of Stadium Auto Body in Allston has joined with the Mugar Enterprises to plan a Kendall Square-like development on the auto shop land and surrounding properties, a deal - called NEXUS - that reflects the surging development scene in Allston and Brighton, but also the tension between growth and local residents, who fear the neighborhood will become too big, too crowded and too gentrified.

WEYMOUTH --- Washington Capital Management - the firm that lent $60 million to LStar for the redevelopment of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station - recently bought 115 acres for just over $33 million at a public auction. All told, the lender bought 40 lots ranging from a quarter acre to 30 acres at what's now called Union Point and will do what it can to recoup its investment, a spokesman for Washington Capital said.

ASHLAND --- The town has bought 90 acres of land near the train station from landowner Robert Gayner and now are in the early phases of planning for the site, which includes rezoning and sectioning off more green open space and to add more affordable senior housing.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- As part of its effort to review zoning to permit housing that would help reverse population declines and bring more people to the community, its downtown and its schools, the planning board is considering allowing existing property owners to add small apartments to single-family homes, within the same structure or through an addition.

STOUGHTON --- Ten years after a fire destroyed a downtown restaurant leaving a crater that exists to this day, the Planning Board has approved a plan to allow Connelly Management Company to redevelop the property into a 14-unit mixed-use development near the commuter rail.