Housing Headlines

SOUTH YARMOUTH --- Efforts by the town to support the redevelopment of some of the more tired hotel properties along Rt. 28 have taken another pause as a second inspection for asbestos will delay the demolition of the Cavalier Motel. Waltham-based Dakota Partners, which has developed apartments near the Hyannis mall, is planning to raze the property and construct 69 apartments.

HAMILTON --- The Hamilton Development Corp. has decided to extend its deadline for choosing an affordable housing development plan for a downtown property as the lone respondent so far - nonprofit Harborlight Community Partners - tries to get the town to support its proposal in combination with its latest idea on how to develop another property near the regional high school.

NEWTON --- Following a year of discussion and moves by both sides that made it obvious that an agreement was better than risking outcomes neither side wanted, the Newton City Council voted by the necessary 16-7 two-thirds majority to grant developer Robert Korff and Mark Development a special permit so the three-century old Orr Block near the Mass Pike and the commuter rail can be transformed into a 160-unit mixed-use development. “I’m exhausted. It’s been a very long, long time but very productive and educational for me. I do feel we ended up with the best project, which we couldn’t have done without the [extensive] dialog,” said developer Robert Korff, of Newton, CEO of Mark Development.

WINCHESTER --- Hoping to gain greater control over developers attempting to build by applying to the town for Ch. 40B land use permits, the Town of Winchester is planning to spend around $75,000 to come up with its first housing plan, which the state requires for towns seeking greater latitude in its ability to manage 40B development requests. Ch. 40B allows developers to override local zoning if the town's affordable housing supply is less than 10 percent. Towns with housing plans that articulate a plan to build affordable housing is one of the initial steps toward having greater control over 40B permit requests.

HARWICH --- The town is exploring using Community Preservation Act funds to pay for a part-time housing coordinator, something that's called for in the town's new housing plan. Both Yarmouth and Wellfleet have coordinators.

LUDLOW --- Residents who reportedly had to wait over two hours to speak let loose on Way Finder's proposal to build 43 affordable apartments, with one critic calling the non-profit developer "disgusting" for apparently negotiating over the amount of handicapped parking spots the project should have. Residents also complained about the impact on real estate values, the location of the project near a school and that the location is too dangerous for children and elderly because of recent reports of bears roaming the neighborhood.