Housing Headlines

YARMOUTH --- Some neighbors along Route 28 are happy that the former Cavalier Motel site is being turned into housing, citing the need for affordable housing, the possibility that property values will go up and the fact that developer Dakota Partners listened to neighborhood concerns. Dakota is in the process of transforming the South Yarmouth site into 120 apartments and is expected to complete the development in the last half of 2019. MHP has committed $3.9M in long-term financing for this development.

SCITUATE --- Toll Brothers has all the permits it needs to build 142 market-rate, age-restricted condominiums on 50 acres in the town's Egypt neighborhood. As part of an agreement with the town, Toll Brothers will build a new athletic field at the Wampatuck Elementary School and a $200,000 grant that can be used at the town's discretion.

BOSTON --- Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh were on hand on July 24 for the grand opening of The Beverly. Developed by Related Beal and financed through MassHousing's Workforce Housing Initiative, the 14-story, 239-unit mixed-income development near North Station was built on an underutilized state property. "We put hundreds of parcels of state property back into productive use," said Governor Baker. "And I can't tell you the satisfaction we get out of seeing what was previously vacant land become productive and important in neighborhoods and communities around the commonwealth." Later in the week, Banker & Tradesman reported there were 6,000 applications for the 239 income-restricted units.

PROVINCETOWN --- A Land Court judge has authorized the sale of the Harbor Hill property to Provincetown, ending a lengthy court process over the property’s 1,000-plus timeshare titles and clearing the way for the town to turn the 26-unit building into affordable housing.

CAMBRIDGE --- If you find reading legal briefs a bit mind-numbing and an activity that lowers your self-esteem, the Cambridge Day's Sue Reinert had a pretty clear layman's explanation of last month's Supreme Judicial Court ruling, which upheld the right of Homeowner's Rehab Inc. to regain ownership of 808-812 Memorial Drive from investors. The decision ensures affordability and is a ruling experts believe will benefit other affordable projects financed with low-income housing tax credits.

GREAT BARRINGTON --- With acquisition financing from the Life Initiative and Way Finders Inc., the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire has purchased an eight-acre property on South Main St. and is planning to seek further financing so it can tear down a single-family house and replace with with 40 to 50 affordable apartments. It is already receiving pre-development financing from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corp.