Housing Headlines

CHELSEA --- The Chelsea Housing Authority has chosen Joseph Corcoran Company as its partner in seeking funding for the $100 million redevelopment of the Innes Development into mixed-income housing that would retain the 96 public housing units and add 222 market-rate units. Corcoran was selected over a partnership between Beacon Companies and The Neighborhood Developers, a Chelsea-based nonprofit.

TISBURY --- The Island Housing Trust's plans to build 10 clustered units totaling 20 affordable apartments on 4.5 acres off State Road received a procedural boost recently as the Martha's Vineyard Commission opted not to open up the project to further regional review as project opponents had hoped, instead sending the project back to the town's Zoning Board of Appeals.

GREENFIELD — In-law apartments could be allowed Greenfield as early as next month if Town Council passes a proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance during its August meeting. A final version will be drafted by the Planning Board and the city's Economic Development Committee, which held a public hearing recently to get feedback. As it currently stands, the ordinance would allow apartments up to 800 square feet to be built either inside existing owner-occupied homes, as additions, as new detached structures or inside existing detached structures, like garages or carriage houses.

METHUEN --- A developer's plan to seek a Ch. 40B permit in order to build 175 apartments was met with stiff resistance by a half-dozen residents, who said the proposal was too big and that the low-income portion of the project would drive down property values.

SOUTH YARMOUTH — Despite significant resident resistance which caused Dakota Partners to slash the height and size of its proposal from three floors and 130 units to two floors, 82 units and no commercial space, Yarmouth’s Housing Trust has unanimously OK’d $2.5 million to support the developer's plan to redevelop two adjacent Rt. 28 motels into multifamily housing.

Banker & Tradesman reporter Steve Adams looks at how the notion of putting housing in suburban office parks or malls is no longer being laughed at as communities like Beverly, Burlington and Needham are now embracing it as a 'smart' location and something communities will approve.