Housing Headlines

EVERETT --- With a strong history of producing affordable housing in Chelsea and then Revere, The Neighborhood Developers received a crucial OK in Everett recently as the zoning board of appeals approved TND's proposal to build 77 mixed-income apartments for seniors at the former St. Therese Church site on Broadway.

Veteran homebuyer educator Donna Cabana says one good byproduct of the 2008 housing crisis is that buyers are more interested in educating themselves before they buy. Programs like MHP ONe Mortgage require that buyers take a class prior to purchase.

MATTAPAN --- Longtime neighborhood advocates see the impending redevelopent of the boarded-up Cote Ford dealership as a symbol of renewed investment in Mattapan. To be developed into 76 mixed-income apartments, it's said to be the first project in Mattapan to receive federal low-income housing tax credits since 2006. By comparison, Dorchester has had nine since that time. The site is being co-developed by Carribean Integration Community Development and the Archdiocese's Planning Office for Urban Affairs.

Innovation Economy columnist Scott Kirsner drafts an imaginary letter that he would like to see Hub and state officials send to Massachusetts business owners. Second on the list behind transportation - lobby your local government to approve more workforce housing.

PEABODY --- Developer Warren Innis has asked that the trigger for the 15 percent inclusionary zoning requirement in the city's single-family zone be raised from 15 to 30 units, which if approved, would make his proposed Stonegate project of 24 single family homes exempt from providing affordable units. The planning board OK"d the proposal, sending it to the city council for approval. One councilor expressed surprise that the planning board OK'd it and the developer proposed it for the entire city.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD --- The nonprofit Island Housing Trust has launched a Workforce Housing Partnership Initiative, collaborating with local businesses on a messaging campaign to build awareness about the fact that over 600 working Island families don't have stable year-round housing. Check out the web site and some of their ads.