Housing Headlines

DEVENS --- The long-debated Shirley Commons elderly housing proposal is nearer to reality as the development has received funding commitments from the state Department of Housing and Community Development and the MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program. The Boston-based nonprofit Women's Institute will be developing the project, which will include 58 affordable apartments.

QUINCY --- FoxRock Properties has taken the next step in its plans to redevelop the 15-acre Quincy Medical Center site into 598 apartments, submitting a site plan to the planning board which will begin its review on Oct. 24. The area's neighborhood association is opposing the development but has signaled its willingness to work with the developer on a plan that is satisfactory to everyone.

NEWTON --- Before an audience of over 200 at Newton North High School on Sept. 27, developer Robert Korff of Mark Development unveiled plans to redevelop the Hotel Indigo property and other sites adjacent to the Riverside MBTA station into eight residential buildings, 663 apartments, two office buildings and a hotel. Korff, who is partnering with Normandy Real Estate Partners, hopes to seek a special permit from the city in 2019.

BOSTON --- In what's being hailed as a victory for Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration's efforts to reduce the number of homeless families being placed in motels, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday that the state can continue to use taxpayer-funded motel rooms solely as housing of last resort, reversing a lower court mandate that expanded the set of circumstances when motel rooms had to be used. A class-action lawsuit brought forth by homeless mothers argued instances where disabled children needlessly suffered when they were placed in housing farther away from hospital care rather than in a motel.

BOSTON --- The research arm of The Boston Foundation has released a report detailing the state of the Greater Boston economy, where it's working well and where it's not delivering for all. Authored by Luc Schuster and Peter Ciurczak of Boston Indicators, the report includes data that points to public policy decisions that have disproportionately harmed communities of color.

SOMERVILLE --- Acknowledging that new housing creation is not keeping up with employment and housing growth, the Metro Mayors Coalition pledged today to produce 185,000 new units by 2030. Since 2010, the 15 cities and towns in the coalition have added nearly 110,000 residents and 148,000 new jobs, while permitting only 32,500 new units, according to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which worked with the mayors on creating strategies to address the need for housing. For more on this effort, go to: https://housingtaskforce.mapc.org/.