Housing Headlines

HAVERHILL --- At least three city councilors who voted against a non-profit's bid to develop 80 to 113 units of city-owned land along the Merrimack River say their decision was based in part on knowledge that the for-profit Princeton Properties was also interested, even though it did not respond to the city's Request for Proposals.

WORCESTER --- In the last of its comprehensive eight-part series on Worcester's neighborhoods, reporter Brad Petrishen takes an in-depth, quote-filled look at the challenges and progress in Main South, and how nonprofits like Main South and Worcester Common Ground have worked with entities like Clark University to make the neighborhood a better place than it was in the 1980s.

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.