Housing Headlines

WEYMOUTH --- The city's bid to renovate Lakeview Manor Public Housing and mix in market-rate units may be able to tap into another funding source as Gov. Charlie Baker has nominated the Lakeview Manor census tract as an "opportunity zone," thereby making it eligible for federal tax breaks under a new program created by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

TEWKSBURY --- Citing the project's size and the developer's lack of experience doing a large development with a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit, selectmen voted 4-1 against partnering with developer Janes Andella on a 77-unit housing development under the state's Local Initiative Program (LIP).

SOMERVILLE --- Thanks in large part to city CPA funds and bond funding from MassDevelopment and East Boston Savings Bank, the Somerville Community Corp. has now purchased 45 units in 10 properties. Called the 100 Homes campaign, SCC's efforts have prevented the displacement of 26 households, including five households in danger of losing their mobile Section 8 voucher. Five units purchased will serve homeless families and individuals.

WILMINGTON --- Wilmington will hold a special town meeting before its May 5 town meeting to vote on whether to exclude multi-family housing from its business and neighborhood mixed-use districts. Special town meeting will also vote on whether it should buy the 75-acre Sciarappa Farm to protect it from development. "Those two articles are going to determine the future of this town," said Selectmen Michael McCoy said. "Number one, in a nutshell, no more condos. People in town do not want to see more condos." McCoy led a citizen's petition to get the special TM in response to a town meeting article that would change the farm's zoning to mixed-use residential. Voters will consider that article as well.

DORCHESTER --- The city's zoning board of appeals has approved developer Adam Sarbaugh's plan to replace the Dorchester Market and Tom English Bar at East Cottage St. and Dorchester Ave. with a mixed-use five-story building that would include 38 apartments (five affordable) and new commercial space for the bar and market.

NEWTON --- Robert Korff of Mark Development has bigger plans than his current project of turning a business block along the Mass Pike into 140 apartments. Korff has begun assembling more parcels and his vision is to remake the entire two-mile stretch that parallels the Mass Turnpike with apartments, bike lanes, parks and cafes.