Housing Headlines

QUINCY --- The setting for Governor Charlie Baker's unveiling of a $1.3 billion housing bond bill earlier this week was a long-vacant parcel at Quincy Point, which Winn Companies and NeighborWorks Southern Mass will be developing into 140 apartments. To be called The Watson, the city is supporting the project with $1.25 million from its housing trust. Baker's bond bill proposal calls for $650 million for public housing, $400 million for affordable housing financing, and $216 million for housing serving vulnerable populations.

BOSTON --- With South Bay in the middle of a massive $200 million residential and commercial development, the last of the single-family homeowners are poised to finally cash in, with one third generation homeowner looking to sell her properties for $6 million.

METHUEN --- With the approval of a 156-unit proposal and two other 40B proposals on the horizon, Methuen is on the verge of having more than 10 percent of its housing affordable, which will give it greater control over development proposals.

MALDEN --- With Cambridge and Somerville home prices out of reach for many, the next hot market for housing may be Malden, which the real estate company Redfine recently ranked as the sixth hottest market in the country due mainly to its Malden Center MBTA stop, which puts residents within 10 minutes of downtown Boston.

An snapshot census of homeless people living on the Cape and Islands shows the population of people living on the streets and in shelters is at its lowest level in the past five years. The annual count in January found 324 homeless people living in the region, the vast majority of them in shelters or transitional housing. That is 70 fewer people than were counted on that date last year. (HT Lauren Dezenski, Politico).

LAWRENCE --- Another successful development company is investing in Lawrence, as it was announced recently that Trinity Financial will move forward with plans to invest $48 million to rehabilitate the vacant Van Brodie Mill on the Methuen line into 102 apartments. As part of an agreement with the city, Trinity has agreed, at Mayor Dan Rivera's request, to buy and renovate three distressed triple-deckers. Rivera said he asked Trinity to buy the triple-deckers because he wants to "bring back the neighborhoods." The mayor also said he prefers putting businesses into the old mill buildings – but converting an industrial structure into homes is better than letting the property remain vacant, he added.