Housing Headlines

CAMBRIDGE --- Following similar public-private partnerships between developers and transit at Boston Landing in Brighton and the Assembly Square Orange Line Station in Boston, Boston Properties has apparently agreed with the City of Cambridge and the state to set aside $6 million for transit improvements as part of deal that would lead to approvals for one million square feet of housing and office space in Kendall Square.

DORCHESTER --- Building more for affordability, the challenge of growth, and the economic difficulty of living in an expensive city were some of the broader topics discussed during a panel discussion about the impacts of development in Dorchester. Sponsored by the St. Mark's Civic Association, the event was moderated by Tom Callahan of the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance. Panelists included Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, Tim Reardon of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Jim Keefe of Trinity Financial and Jim Greely and Cecelia Nardi of the Boston Planning and Development Agency.

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.