Housing Headlines

IPSWICH --- The owner of Bruni's Market - a lifelong town resident - has told the town that he will be applying for a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit so he can redevelop his property into 194 mixed-income apartments, a proposal selectmen say would be the largest development the town has ever seen. "Everyone always complaining about the fact there's no affordable housing, but every time someone comes forward with a plan, it creates a big stir," said John J. Bruni. "The history of Ipswich is it was a blue collar, working town. I grew up here and we prided ourselves on knowing your neighbor and that has all changed."

WEYMOUTH – The zoning board of appeals have given the OK to Heritage Companies' plans to redevelop the Brava building at 59 Washington St. and a parcel of land behind it. By a 4-0 vote, the board has OK'd plans for Weymouth Landing. Proposed by Heritage's Michael Kiley, the plan calls for the conversion of office space above the Passport restaurant into two apartments and the construction of a new 21-unit apartment building behind it.

QUINCY --- The city's Planning Board has begun hearings on two separate proposals that could bring more than 700 apartments to the area around North Quincy's MBTA station in the next couple of years. The larger proposal would be built on the T station property - a mixed-use development featuring 610 apartments and 50,000 square feet of commercial space. This is being proposed by Atlantic Development of Hingham in partnership with the Bozzuto Group of Washington D.C.

NATICK ---The owner of the property at 19 Willow St. near Natick Center is proposing to turn an existing building into 11 apartments and build 16 more in a new building on another part of the lot by using a town bylaw that allows density when there are community benefits like affordable housing. At least five units will be affordable, above the town bylaw's 15 percent affordable requirement.

MARSHFIELD --- Mill Creek Residential, a national housing developer, came before the town's Zoning Board of Appeals recently to reveal details of its plans to build 270 apartments if it can secure a Ch. 40B building permit from the town. A spokesperson for the compan said 68 of the apartments would be affordable and that the development is estimated to bring in $400,000 in property tax revenue. The developers are proposing to build the apartments on a 22-acre parcel in Marshfield's Enterprise Park. Mill Creek other developments in Mass. include Concord Mews, Watertown Mews, and Modera Natick Center. In total, Mill Creek’s Boston-area portfolio comprises 2,524 apartment homes.

JAMAICA PLAIN --- The Jamaica Plain Development Corporation's plan to build 44 affordable apartments at 25 Amory St. cleared another hurdle last month as the JP neighborhood council OK'd the plan. The was passed by the Boston Planning and Development Agency last summer but still needs the OK of the city's Zoning Board of Appeals.