Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Two recent reviews of housing construction show that while development in the downtown and Seaport areas have enabled Boston to exceed its housing production goals, city officials predict future growth and investment will take place in outlying neighborhoods in the coming years.

QUINCY --- A local family has filed an appeal with the state over the Zoning Board of Appeals' denial of its application for a Ch. 40B land use permit so it could build 32 apartments in the Wollaston section of the city. Warren Place LLC, the company created by the Boncaldo family, appeal to the state is for 40 units, which it originally proposed before scaling it back in response to feedback from ZBA and residents.

HYANNIS --- Governor Baker's newly formed Council on Aging continued its statewide listening tour on the Cape recently, where over 100 seniors showed up to voice concerns about the lack of affordable housing, the stress it causes and how a more stable housing situation would also lead to better health.

The Boston Globe's Katie Johnston takes an in-depth look at the economic challenges facing the state's elderly, where it's estimated that more than 60 percent can't afford food, housing or other living expenses, the second highest rate in the country behind Mississippi.

NORWELL --- The effort to turn the former police station into 18 mixed-income senior apartments has hit a snag as the nonprofit Metro West Collaborative has told town officials it will be unable to afford the $38,500 in yearly property taxes. It appears that to make the project move forward, Town Meeting will have to vote on whether to allow the nonprofit to make a smaller payment in lieu of taxes.

PROVINCETOWN --- The saga of developer Christopher Wise's attempts to turn the former Michael Shay restaurant site at Rte. 6A gateway to Provincetown into 13 condos continues with reports that two more buildings may have exceeded height lmitations. During the permitting process, residents voiced concerns about building height and even flew a drone over the site to show neighbors how high the buildings would be.