Housing Headlines

An editorial in the Salem News urged anyone who sits on a local board to read a recent study by Boston University showing that resistance to housing dominates public meetings. The study of so-called NIMBYism - short for Not in My Backyard - found that about two thirds of residents who spoke at housing-related public meetings were against new developments. Researchers poured over three years of meeting notes from 97 communities to reach their conclusions. By contrast, only 14 percent spoke in favor. The editorial pointed out that those numbers are out of whack with local and statewide polling.

EGREMONT --- By just one vote, Egremont residents at special town meeting failed to OK by the necessary two-thirds majority a proposal to borrow $640,000 so it could partner with neighboring Charlmont to move two donated homes to town land and then renovate them into condos. Apprroximately 150 of the town's 1,200 residents attended the meeting and the vote on borrowing was 88 in favor and 45 against. Voters were also clear in their voice vote to reject adopting the Community Preservation Act, which would provide funds for open space, preservation and affordable housing through a local surcharge. Voters did OK spending $375 for mowing at town cemeteries.

FRAMINGHAM --- The owner of the neighboring Carlyle House nursing home on Winter St. wants to convert a historic home into 15 apartments, an idea J. Dennis Morgan said he can now put forth due to a new three-year old city bylaw that lowered the minimum square footage of for new apartments in historic properties from 900 to 600 square feet.

BOSTON --- Leggat McCall will join forces with Corcoran Jennison Associates to redevelop the Bunker Hill public housing project, according to an announcement made recently by the Boston Housing Authority and the Charlestown Resident Alliance. The two private development companies will team up to replace the existing 1,100 public housing units while adding 1,700 market-rate units.

CARLISLE --- Citing a lack of support by the selectmen and the decision to eliminate the town's housing coordinator position, all four members of the Carlisle Housing Authority board have resigned and issued a joint letter of resignation that was sent to local officials, the state and several media outlets.

MARLBOROUGH --- The senior public housing on Pleasant Street will get a much needed-facelift as the state has awarded the housing authority $3.3 million toward the rehabilitation of the 50-year-old facility. The City of Marlborough is also chipping in with $720,850 in solar net metering credits over 10 years, $100,000 from the neighborhood stabilization program, $100,000 in Community Development reserves and $400,000 approved by the City Council to fund the remainder of the project.