Housing Headlines

HOPEDALE --- The Hopedale Planning Board delayed its vote on a 500-unit, $50 million renewal plan for the former Draper Corp. property after its principal property owner complained he was not adequately informed of the plan and characterized it as a "land grab" by the Grafton and Upton Railroad, which has pledged to redevelop the property in a public-private partnership with the town. The Grafton and Upton Railroad is a 16-mile rail spur from Grafton to Milford that connects with CSX Transportation rail lines at both ends. It was once a subsidiary of the Draper Corp.

CHATHAM --- Five years after he passed away, the impact of housing advocate Bob Murray lives on, albeit in abridged version as a small group of nonprofits continued Murray's tradition of holding a summer walk to raise funds for homelessness. Murray, who developed housing at nonprofits in Falmouth and Harwich, started a week-long walk-a-thon that raised thousands of dollars for charity. The 25th and last version was held last year but the Harwich Ecumenical Council and Chatham Ecumenical Council for Helping to Prevent Homelessness kept the tradition alive with a one-day mini-walk event this year.

WEYMOUTH --- LStar Capital has announced that it is changing leadership of the redevelopment of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station, with Boston division president Gerry Kavanaugh overseeing all aspects of the Union Point development and Kyle Corkum moving into a more national role with the company. Kavanaugh joined LStar in the fall of 2017. He previously served as senior vice chancellor at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and president of Higher Education Partners, a consulting firm that works with community colleges and universities. Kavanaugh also was chief of staff to the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and held leadership positions at the Boston Redevelopment Authority during Mayor Ray Flynn’s administration.

DENNIS --- Saying it's the best way for the town to have maximum control over what's being built, selectmen voted to issue a letter supporting a local initiative program application for Maritime Landing, a 28-unit mixed-income condominium complex being proposed for Route 6A by developer Mark Smith, who has constructed a similar development in Brewster. The state's Local Initiative Program is a version of Chapter 40B that encourages communities and developers to work together. “Given everything that’s said and done, that is our best option to keep local control to the best of our ability and to provide as much input to the developer as possible,” Selectman Sheryl McMahon said of her decision to support the LIP application. Seven of the homes will be affordable.

SCITUATE --- In an effort to simplify zoning and avoid strip mall-type growth in the town's Greenbush neighborhood, town officials last month presented a zoning initiative that would encourage mixed-use development and better control commercial development that residents say is changing the character of the neighborhood.

WEYMOUTH --- While residents acknowledge the progress - 1,200 homes, athletic fields and jobs coming in - some residents on and off the former South Weymouth Naval Air Base wonder if Union Point will ever realize its promise of becoming the urban oasis as developer LStar has yet to attract one permanent store or business into the ground floor commercial space as of June 9, when reporter Jessica Trufant wrote this feature.