Housing Headlines

QUINCY --- A week before Christmas, a family that had lived in seven different hotels or homes since losing everything when Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico moved into a new home thanks to the Quincy Housing Authority's new Snug Harbor Residences, which was developed in part through a partnership with the city and $400,000 from the city's housing trust fund.

MINNEAPOLIS --- With a city council vote in December, Minneapolis is believed to be the first city in the country to eliminate single-family zoning and instead allow residential structures with up to three units in every city neighborhood. “Minneapolis is not alone in being a city with a history of intentional segregation,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in an interview this week. “I’m hopeful that we’re not alone in undoing it.”

In 2012, MHP recognized Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod and the late Don Dickinson - a Ca[e Habitat volunteer - with its annual Housing Hero Award for their prolific work creating homeownership and rental opportunities on the Cape. Fast forward six years and nothing's changed as the Cape Cod chapter expects to complete seven affordable homes this year.

FRAMINGHAM --- To remedy a legal conflict created by the city's over-55 housing rules, Brendon Properties will make a cash payment to the city in lieu of providing six affordable units in its redevelopment of the former Marist property into 60 age-restricted homes. The legal conflict stems from that the fact that the state does not count units as affordable if they exclude children.

CANTON --- The Canton Town Planner and MHP's Shelly Goehring made a presentation to selectmen in December, explaining the benefits of having an affordable housing trust to enhance the town's ability to create and preserve affordable housing. Canton Town Planner Laura Smead plans to do similar outreach to the housing authority and the Canton Community Preservation Committee, which oversees funds that could help fund the trust.

NANTUCKET --- In reaction to stories like the nurse who has lived in eight expensive or makeshift apartments since coming to the island to work three years ago, Nantucket College Hospital is hoping to get approval to turn one of its buildings into 83 units of housing for staff.