Housing Headlines

SUDBURY --- B'nai B'rith Housing Executive Director Susan Gittelman hopes to break ground on the second phase of Coolidge at Sudbury in 2019, providing the company can secure necessary state and federal funding to go forward with 56 additional units that is expected to keep Sudbury's supply of affordable housing above 10 percent in time for the 2020 census.

NEWBURYPORT --- The City Council voted favorably on two zoning measures recently, approving an inclusionary bylaw that require developments of six units or more to be at least 12 percent affordable, and okaying a second measure that reduces the size of multifamily districts in the historic North and South ends.

HOPKINTON --- The developer of the former Weston Nurseries - now known as Legacy Farms - is facing a $500,000 payment to the town as part of an agreement that calls for the covering of school costs if the development attracts more than 250 students to the schools in the first six years. As of Oct. 1, the school department is reporting that the development has added 207 students. Selectmen Chairman John Coutinho said the development will likely exceed the 250 students by 2019 six-year deadline, but the houses are selling for much more than anticipated. “The revenue it is bringing in is significantly more than the town ever expected,” he said.

FOXBORO --- The town's affordable housing trust is planning to allocate $50,000 to do preliminary feasibility work that would determine how the town would seek development proposals on its desire to see 90 senior apartments develop on former state land on Walnut Street.

TRURO --- The Baker-Polito Administration's Open for Business Program which promotes the use of underutilized state properties is paying dividends for Truro as the town has taken control of four acres of state transportation land and will use it to build affordable housing. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito signed the land over to Truro in a cerremony at the town administration building on Oct. 19. MHP is funding an engineering study to help determine how much housing can be built on the site, which is near the off ramp to Highland Light House in North Truro.

CHELMSFORD --- With the town's supply of apartments expected to double from 625 to over 1,200 in the next few years, reporter Alana Melanson takes town government's temperature on housing and finds public officials see it as a byproduct of the town and region's location and economic health, and they are working to plan wisely so the town can realize the benefits of providing housing for the younger working class and the revenues that come from increased growth.