Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- MassDevelopment has issued $9.4 million in bonds for Walker Park, a project from the Urban Edge Housing Corporation, a community development organization in Roxbury. Urban Edge is using bond proceeds to build Walker Park, a 49-unit affordable rental housing facility in the Egleston Square section of Roxbury. MHP has committed $2.1 million in long-term financing for Walker Park. Also, MHP’s community assistance team provided a $25,000 grant and significant staff time to work with Urban Edge, the city and development team on using lean design techniques, which emphasize collaboration, reliable workflows and resource efficiencies to hold down construction costs. The effort supported a 20 percent reduction in construction costs at construction document stage.

SALISBURY --- As part of the Baker-Polito administration's efforts to create and preserve affordable housing, the Residences at Salisbury Square has received crucial state funding that will result in 42 affordable apartments, with 16 units deeply affordable to households at or below 30 percent of area median income.

SWAMPSCOTT -- B'nai B'rith Housing's plans to turn a former elementary school into 38 units of affordable senior housing took another step forward recently as the Swampscott Planning Board recommended favorable action on the developer's plan, a key approval in the developer's request to get a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit from the town's Zoning Board of Appeals.

FALMOUTH --- The controversial 104-unit Lyberty Heights housing proposal for Main Street has added an additional twist to its already lengthy history of contentious hearings and two legal challenges as voters at fall Town Meeting will now get to vote on whether to prevent the ZBA-approved project by purchasing or taking the land by eminent domain.

ORANGE --- As part of its $72 million effort to create and preserve some 2,000 units across the state, the Baker-Polito Administration has announced a funding award to the Schochet Companies of Braintree for the rehabilitation of the 114-unit Pine Crest and 120-unit King James affordable housing complexes in Orange.

FALMOUTH --- In a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing to consider a plan by two local developers to build 20 apartments in the neighborhood where they live, other residents asked whether the five affordable units the 40B comprehensive land use permit would allow would attract Section 8 voucher holders, pit bull owners, smokers and crime. In response, zoning board member Kimberly A. Bielan took issue with some of the neighbor’s comments. “Personally, I think it is a little offensive to say, ‘Is this Section 8 housing? Do we have to keep our eye out the window?’” she said. “These people are people who deserve housing. They’re hardworking. A lot of people are teachers… They’re no different than the other people who would buy property next to your house.”