Housing Headlines

LUDLOW --- Concerns that a proposed 43-unit affordable housing development is too near wetlands, a school and may not be accessible to public safety vehicles has caused the town to consider hiring legal help on how to fight HAPHousing's plan to apply to the town for a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit. "I'm going to contact town counsel to come up with some names of experts in 40B," said Ludlow Town Administrator Ellie Villano, acting at the behest of selectmen. According to the state, 2.2 percent of the town's housing is considered affordable.

NEWTON --- The city's legal department has ruled that a petition signed by more than two dozen residents is enough to trigger a provision in the state zoning law that will require developers of the controversial Washington Place project to get a three-quarters majority vote from the City Council. Mark Investments is seeking to rezone the intersection of Washington and Walnut streets alongside the commuter rail and the Mass Pike so it can demolish several old buildings and replace it with a series of mixed-use apartment buildings that would total 160 units.The developers now need 18 councilors to vote in favor instead of 16.

CONCORD --- Responding to comments from the Finance Committee questioning the town's promise to support an 83-unit affordable assisted living development with $3 million in CPA funds, Managing Director Walter Ohanian of the Grantham Group reduced his request to $2 million.

SAUGUS --- Avalon Bay has unveiled its master plan for the 13.9 acre Hilltop Steak House site, proposing to build 280 apartments and 24,000 square feet of retail space. The Planning Board got to see it on Feb. 2 and voted 4-0 to continue the discussion at future meetings.

PROVINCETOWN --- The town's efforts to purchase a bankrupt timeshare and turn it into 26 units of affordable housing cleared another hurdle as it learned it was the top bidder in a sealed auction. The town, which bid $8.1 million, is now eligible for the live auction on Feb. 27 along with the other two bidders - $7.5 million bid from the Lexvest Group LLC, real estate developers from Shirley, and a $2 million bid from a group made up of Thomas Kennedy, Ronald Rudick, and John Ciluzzi.

BOSTON --- Developer say tax reform talks that could lead to a lower corporate rate are already weakening the main financing engine of affordable housing - the federal low income housing tax credit program. Developers and builders say some projects have been delayed as the drop in value of the credits has caused developments to address sudden financial shortfalls.