Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Massport selected a team of The Community Builders and Menkiti Group to develop the first income-restricted housing development in Boston's Seaport District. The plan calls for a 15-story, 200-unit complex next to the agency’s 1,500-space South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center on D Street. All units will be reserved for households earning 30 to 120 percent of area median income, which translates to a range of $31,170 to $124,680 for a 1-person household.

BOSTON --- Local and state officials, and residents celebrated the grand opening of Parkway 1208, a new energy-efficient, transit-oriented affordable housing development of 60 income-restricted apartments. The acquisition of the land at 1208D VFW Parkway was made possible by Boston-based B’nai B’rith Housing. This marks the first construction of affordable residences in West Roxbury since 2013.

BRIDGEWATER --- A ribbon cutting marked the grand opening of McElwain School Apartments, Bridgewater's newest housing development and testament to preserving history while embracing modern living, offering both affordable and market-rate apartments. The former elementary school building had been vacant since 1994. The complex is now home to 57 households.

STATE --- A WBUR and Pro Publica investigation finds that local housing agencies have repurposed 120 subsidized apartment units across the state despite a long waitlist for affordable housing. Many housing agencies are quietly using subsidized apartments for other purposes, like office space, laundry rooms and storage. The investigation found that one cause of prolonged vacancies is the flawed online waitlist system the state launched four years ago.

BOSTON --- In a speech to business leaders, Mayor Michelle Wu promised a comprehensive update to a 60-year-old zoning code she called “long, dense, and internally inconsistent in ways that make planning confusing, unpredictable, and costly.” Currently, building in Boston can be a tortuous process.

METHUEN --- Ground has been broken for a development by the YWCA of Greater Newburyport for the lowest income senior households. The complex will feature 48 one-bedroom units for senior households who also qualify for nursing home level care. “Homelessness is a crisis in the country, not just in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Mayor Neil Perry. “Projects like these are so important.”