Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The state's hopes of selling 5.5 acres near South Station will have to wait as the Massachusetts Dept. of Transportation received no bids for the Kneeland Street property as of last Friday's deadline. The Globe reported that real estate developers said the site had too many challenges for the $167 million price tag. State officials hinted they may simplify their list of requirements and put the land out to bid again.

BOSTON --- Saying there's a loophole in new regulations, City Councilor Michael Flaherty is proposing that the city place an interim zoning designation on South Boston that would stop smaller properties from being turned into larger multifamily developments.

NORTHBORO --- Alarmed by the number of smaller properties that are being turned into two-family homes, Northboro Town Meeting voters OK'd a one-year moratorium on two-family dwellings, reasoning it will give local officials time to craft bylaws to control such development in the future.

WORCESTER --- One of the supportive housing projects selected by the Baker-Polito administration for funding recently was 21 Jacques Ave. in Worcester. The non-profit Worcester Common Ground is planning to rehabilitate this abandoned, crime-plagued property into four units of affordable housing for extremely low-income families, with two units set aside for people with disabilities. The state is supporting WCG's efforts with $552,000 in funding from its housing trust fund, Housing Innovation Fund, and Facilities Consolidation Fund. Additional funding is coming from the City of Worcester. The rehab effort will complement other stabilization work WCG has done on Jacques Ave. and the surrounding neighborhood. Click on the headline link for a complete list of state awards for supportive housing.

BROCKTON --- A chain link fence has been erected around Perkins Park as part of an effort by the city to eventually add a wrought iron fence and other barriers that would discourage the homeless from loitering there. City officials say the park is a magnet for homeless as it is near a downtown homeless shelter and currently only offers as a barrier a short stone wall that loiterers sit on. When asked about the new fencing, Mayor Bill Carpenter said, “Do we have ongoing concerns regarding safety and security at that park? Yes. Are we looking at options that we think would make the park less attractive for loitering and illegal activity? Yes.”

NEW BEDFORD --- The annual "point in time" count of homeless taken on Jan. 25-26 identified 325 homeless adults and children around the city, which is a three-year low and a 25 percent decrease from 2016.