Housing Headlines

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.

AMHERST --- Senior Planner Nathaniel Malloy has said that the public comment period on Beacon Communities plan to develop six acres near the Cowls Building Supply store into 130 apartments will continue until Sept. 21. Information about the 40B proposal can be found on the Town of Amherst web site.

BEVERLY --- Nonprofit housing developer Andrew DeFranza of Harborlight Community Partners recently received the first Peter J. Gomes Award for his dedication to affordable housing. The award, established by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, is named after the late Rev. Peter J. Gomes of Harvard University, a professor who stressed compassion and commitment to community service.

SOUTHBOROUGH --- One day after 20 residents asked a judge to toss out the Zoning Board of Appeal's decision to let Capital Group Properties build 180 apartments with a Ch. 40B permit, the Planning Board has sued the ZBA for exceeding its authority in granting waivers to the developer. Earlier this summer, ZBA chair Leo Bartolini voluntarily stepped down in response to a citizen petition asking selectmen to remove him for his handling of the permitting process.

NORTH ANDOVER --- The Board of Selectmen have unanimously OK'd the use of $115,000 from the town's Affordable Housing Trust to support the purchase of a rundown house on May St. by Bread and Roses, the nonprofit that last year bought and redeveloped another house on this street into two affordable for-sale units.