Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Responding to concerns that its plan to build a complex of towers over Back Bay Station would cast shadows on two historic churches, Boston Properties has agreed to pay into a preservation fund and has also agreed to pay $3 million into the city's affordable housing fund.

HAMILTON --- Following the defeat of two bylaws that would have encouraged housing development, Wicked Local Hamilton praised various town boards and officials for preparing clear presentations that fostered discussion but criticized what it described as a "toxic undercurrent of suburban snobbery that bubbled up at Town Meeting."

NEWTON --- With the Supreme Judicial Court ruling that Ch. 40B cannot be used to override zoning at the Wells Ave. office park, Sean Roche declares the 300-unit proposal for that site all but dead but argues Newton needs to stop chasing the dream of a revitalized suburban office park and start planning for mixed uses so it can compete with rivals liked the "revved up" Needham Office Park.

BEVERLY --- Columnist Nelson Benton notes how nice it was to see so many residents come out in support of a 75-unit affordable housing proposal in Beverly, a turnout he says is evidence of why this city is such a unique place to live.

BOSTON --- The Chinatown Community Land Trust has its eye on a city-owned parking lot near the Josiah Quincy School that is currently being leased to Tufts University and Tiufs Medical. Originally a site for Chinatown homes, the land was seized by eminent domain in the 1950s to make way for I-90 and I-93, and later was the site of the Wang YMCA bubble. "We think it's time for public land to come back to community control," said CCLT director Lydia Lowe at a recent community meeting.

WORCESTER --- The Planning Board made it official recently, approving the site plan which will pave the way for Botany Bay Construction to redevelop a former five-acre paper factory on Clover St. into seven buildings with 90 apartments. Located in the southwest corner of the city, the site was seized by the city several years ago for back taxes. Botany operates two well-known apartment complexes in the city - Botany Bay off June St. and Center Hill off Mill Street.