Housing Headlines

BROCKTON --- Naomi Cordova's decision to settle for buying a home in Brockton underscores the racial divisions of homeownership around the region, where only five communities accounted for almost half of the homes bought by black borrowers in 2015, and where seven communities accounted for 42 percent of the homes purchased by Latinos.

EASTHAM --- Developers behind a plan to build 50 apartments on a former Route 6 have filed an appeal with the state over the Eastham Zoning Board of Appeals' decision to reject the application for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit back in March. The development is being proposed by Peabody-based Stratford Capital and the Community Development Partnership, an Eastham-based non-profit. “Our hope is that with this appeal, that we’ll have the opportunity to sit down with the town and iron out an agreement to move forward with the project,” said Jay Coburn, executive director of the partnership.

SCITUATE --- The local housing authority hopes to team up with a private developer to build 30 affordable apartments for seniors on land the housing authority owns behind Central Park.The town's housing trust has already pledged to support the project with $600,000 and voters at Town Meeting on April 26 will be asked to OK an additional $1.9 million in Community Preservation Act funds to the development.

SOUTH YARMOUTH --- Efforts to transform some of the town's motel properties into housing took a step forward recently as a developer officially bought the former Cavalier Motel Lodge on Route 28. Dakota Partners, which has developed affordable housing in Hyannis, bought the property for $2.53 million and will now seek state financing in order to build 69 apartments. Dakota originally proposed 120 apartments but scaled plans back after significant resident feedback.

QUINCY --- Two years after pulling a proposal due to resident resistance and a court appeal, the Boncaldo family will apply to the city for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land permit so it can develop land it owns in the Wollaston section into 40 mixed-income apartments.

SWAMPSCOTT --- Acting on a recommendation spelled out in its recent housing and master plans, Town Meeting will consider this spring an inclusionary zoning bylaw that would require developers to make 15 percent of its housing affordable for new multi-family development with 10 units or more; a new subdivision, with six units or more; and an assisted living or independent living facility, with five units or more..