Housing Headlines

WENHAM --- After getting considerable push back from abutters, the town's Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is choosing to back away from soliciting housing development proposals for a parcel of town land located behind the Public Safety Building and the Winthrop Elementary School. This would be a step back in the town's efforts to create housing as it had signed non-binding "compacts" with two nonprofits to explore development on town parcels and the private market.

CHILMARK --- Rather than just allowing large houses with a septic system large enough for each bedroom, a local resident is pushing the town to also allow the construction of four "tiny" homes on a single lot with a single septic system. The move would be similar to a proposal adopted by Nantucket, which passed the measure to help address its affordable housing shortage.

AMHERST --- Hours after the Zoning Board of Appeals OK'd Beacon Communities' 130-apartment mixed use plan for the town's Mill District, the Select Board voted unanimously to grant the developer a $2.8 million tax break during the first decade the project is complete.

NEWTON --- The City Council's Land Use Committee could vote tonight (Feb. 7) on a plan that proposes to replace century-old buildings at the corner of Washington and Walnut streets in the Newtonville section with a mixed-use development that would include commercial, 160 apartments and 346 parking spaces. If approved, the proposal by developer Robert Korff could move forward for a vote by the full City Council.

PROVINCETOWN --- About 500 voters packed Town Hall on Monday, Feb. 6, and voted by the necessary two-thirds to move forward with a proposal to borrow $10.7 million in order to bid on the bankrupt Harbor Hill time share. The next step is a town-wide vote tonight, which would need a simple majority. The town is hoping to bid on Harbor Hill and use the 26 units for year-round affordable housing.

NORTON --- Robert Arista of Dakota Partners went before selectmen recently seeking support for Turtle Crossing, a 176-unit apartment Ch. 40B proposal the town supported back in 2008. The project was never built but Arista told the the town looking for support so his company could apply to the state for tax-credit financing.