Housing Headlines

AUBURN --- Selectmen have voted unanimously to issue a request for proposals to turn the former school buildings into housing for residents age 55 and over. The RFP is expected to be formally posted by the end of the month, with bids tentatively due in late November. A proposal could be selected by the end of the year.

BOSTON --- In its ongoing coverage of a family working to escape welfare, WBUR reporter Anthony Brooks reports on how the Skinner-Seney family has progressed from welfare to work but now faces a new challenge of trying to figure out how to buy a home and build wealth in the red-hot Boston real estate market.

SUDBURY --- As the town moves to support Avalon Bay's 250-unit plan and deny another plan known as Sudbury Station, a new proposal has surfaced as the B'nai B'rith Housing New England is proposing to expand The Coolidge at Sudbury senior housing complex by adding 56 units to the 64 completed last year.

MARLBORO --- Capitalizing on a 2014 zoning change to promote downtown development, local developer Kevin Brett has proposed to convert the former Marlborough Cooperative Bank building on Main St. into a mixed use property featuring a ground floor restaurant and 32 condominiums on the upper floors. Brett’s project is the second to come before city officials since the zoning change was approved. George Voyiatzis, owner of Fish Restaurant, recently received the go-ahead to construct 40 new apartments above his building at the corner of South Bolton Street and Granger Boulevard.

WORCESTER --- The state Department of Housing and Community Development has OK'd the city's urban renewal plan, which is focused on revitalizing 21 parcels and six condominiums that the city says have been neglected, need investment or cleaning up.

CHELSEA --- Globe columnist Renee Loth takes a look at the Baker Administration's efforts to attract private investment to public housing to rehabilitate existing units while adding workforce housing to the same sites. The state is supporting efforts to do this in Chelsea and Somerville and is setting aside funds to do more.