Housing Headlines

ATHOL --- Through the Community Development Block Grant Program, the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority received $800,000 to be put toward rehabilitating at least 16 homes for qualifying households in Charlemont and Wendell, as well as an additional $350,000 to renovate at least seven homes in Orange. The money will be used for initial lead paint risk assessments or full lead abatement inspections, post-abatement compliance inspections and code violation corrections.

GREAT BARRINGTON --- The Accessory Dwelling Unit Subcommittee of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund will meet on September 12 to discuss whether accessory dwelling units might help create more affordable housing in the community. The pilot plan, which would make grants from a $150,000 fund, was conceived amid a scramble to come up with affordable housing options in the community.

CHARLESTOWN --- The Archdiocese of Boston and its partner St. Francis House have notified the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) about their plan to convert the shuttered Charlestown Hotel into affordable housing. The development will feature 100 affordable rental units, including some for formerly homeless people. The proposal is heading to a formal community process led by BPDA.

SALEM --- Renovations are wrapping up at Salem Heights, a 281-unit affordable housing complex off Pope Street. Updates include centralized heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, expansion of public areas, duct work, side-mounted solar arrays and free internet access throughout each unit.

CAMBRIDGE --- Cambridge City Council is set to vote on a controversial zoning petition that would increase maximum height restrictions for buildings with 100 percent affordable housing. If approved developments as high as 15 stories would be allowed in some parts of the city. Cambridge’s affordable housing waitlist currently has more than 22,000 applicants, with nearly 4,500 living in Cambridge. Council will vote on the matter in the fall.

ARLINGTON --- Deliberations by the Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals are set to begin September 5 on an affordable housing development proposed by the Housing Corporation of Arlington. The 43-units are proposed at 10 Sunnyside Avenue with a possible occupancy of 2026. A decision is expected to be made by the ZBA by September 24. During an August public hearing, residents expressed concerns about parking, safety, traffic flow and size of the development.