Housing Headlines

QUINCY --- The state Housing Appeals Committee has overturned the city's rejection of a 40-unit Wollaston affordable housing proposal, paving the way for a development known as The Warren to become the first-ever project in the city built with a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit.

BOSTON --- Hub housing chief Sheila Dillon told reporters Boston is looking to build over 200 more small-sized supportive housing units for the long-term homeless, is looking for two sites and hopes to raise $10 million from philanthropy for the effort.

BOSTON --- The Bay State Banner's Yawu Miller takes a look at the City of Boston's building boom and how that's created a debate in the neighborhoods between those who believe greater density and more production will lead to more affordability versus those who say increased housing is doing little to ease pressure on rents. This debate is best seen in Dorchester where Dorchester Growing Together is advocating for greater density while Dorchester Not For Sale is arguing that projects in the pipeline offer little affordability for people who live in the neighborhood.

FALL RIVER --- Two weeks after Rep. Carole Fiola met with elderly residents and three days after another meeting at Doolan Apartments, a third meeting became heated over the Fall River Housing Authority's recent placement of young disabled residents into elderly public housing. Most of the complaints centered around suspected drug use. The practice began after the housing authority missed a deadline to submit an updated housing plan to the federal government.

BOSTON --- The City of Boston shut down a Massachusetts Ave. storage facility after discovering that several individuals were living in storage units. One person told inspectors she's paying $230 a month and police observed one unit had curtains, a bed and a love seat.

WORCESTER --- Roseland Residential Trust officially cut the ribbon on 145 Front Street at City Square, the 365-unit downtown luxury apartment complex. The event marked the opening of both phases, the 237-unit phase which opened in the spring and the second phase of 128 units that opened during the summer. According to Roseland, So far, 146 have been leased so far and the company hopes to be 70 percent leased by end of the year.