Housing Headlines

WORCESTER --- The developer who won a bid to develop a city-owned property at 5 May St. into affordable housing has backed out of his agreement after learning that the building is part of a federal investigation involving a previous developer who is alleged to have conspired with a city housing official.

SAUGUS --- Heralded as part of the renaissance of Route 1, the Saugus Planning Board has approved Essex Landing, a mixed-use development that will include 255 one-bedroom apartments, two hotels and three restaurants. The project, developed by Michael Touchette and Michael Barsamian, will be built on the current site of the Route 1 Miniature Golf and Batting Cages.

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority has OK'd a revised plan for phase three of the Jackson Square transit oriented development, with the new plan calling for the Jamaica Plain NDC to create 44 affordable rental apartments and The Community Builders to build 76 market-rate units, 24 affordable units and 2,400 square feet of retail space.

HANOVER --- The state Appeals Court has overruled the state Housing Appeals Committee and a Plymouth Superior Court Judge, and has sided with the town in its decision seven years ago to deny a developer a Ch. 40B permit to build 200 units across from the Hanover Mall. The judges gave two reasons, saying the developer did not fully pay the filing fee to the town in time and that by the time it was paid, another project put Hanover's total of affordable housing over 10 percent.

NORTHAMPTON --- During a City Council meeting in August, councilors voted unanimously to authorize the purchase of 165 acres along Glendale Road and Burts Pit Road for conservation, with carve-outs for housing development.

PLYMOUTH --- The Plymouth Housing Authority is looking to partner with the town's Community Preservation Committee to turn the soon-to-be vacant Mount Pleasant School into eight units of public housing. The School Committee recently reverted ownership of the school to the town. In addition to the housing authority, a private developer is also seeking permission from the town to develop the property.