Housing Headlines

WORCESTER --- Continuing a tradition of previous attorney generals to revitalize abandoned and foreclosed properties, state Attorney General Maura Healey visited Worcester recently to visit a home that's being rehabilitated and put back on the tax rolls through her office's Abandoned Housing Initiative. In Worcester, the AG's office has been working with Worcester Community Housing Resources and receiver Michael Luby of Crossfire Construction. Dominick Marcigliano of WCHR said the city has received $1.5 million that has resulted in rehabilitating more than 300 housing units. The city is receiving another $625,000, which will pay for 125 more units.

NEWTON -- Writing an opinion piece for Commonwealth Magazine, Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss reflects on the experience of seeing residents come out in support of immigrants one night and fight a proposal for mixed-income housing the next.

AMHERST --- The owner of an abutting property that features several businesses and 14 apartments has filed an appeal asking the town to annul a comprehensive permit granted to Beacon Communities for a $47.5 million, 130-unit mixed-use development in North Amherst.

WAYLAND --- Neighbors have come out in force to object to a developer's application to the town for a Ch. 40B permit to build 12 units on School Street. Over 200 people have signed a petition and residents packed a recent meeting held by the Planning Board and the town's Housing Partnership to preview the proposal. Representatives of Windsor Place LLC were at the meeting but did not speak.

WORCESTER --- The Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) has announced that it is teaming with a Boston nonprofit on a program that will help families with Section 8 use their vouchers and personal income to become homeowners by using the funds to pay a monthly mortgage payment rather than rent. "We're not afraid to try something new in helping folks to self-sufficiency," said WHA Executive Director Alex Corrales in announcing the partnership with Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America . The idea is not new – WHA and other housing authorities have been doing this for more than a decade – but the model is. While both models provide Section 8 vouchers for 15 years, the new model – with the help of the Boston nonprofit – aims to ensure the entire mortgage is paid off in that span.

BEVERLY --- A public hearing was held recently on plans by Harborlight Community Partners to work with the city on using a state zoning incentive bylaw known as Ch. 40R to build 61 affordable rental apartments on the corner of Sohier and Tozier roads.