Housing Headlines

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.

MARBLEHEAD --- Saying it would like to do more, the Marblehead Fair Housing Committee has asked the town to appropriate $300,000 into the town's Affordable Housing Trust so it can use it in combination with other funds to purchase multifamily properties that it would convert housing that would be affordable.

DANVERS --- With its supply of affordable housing hovering at 10 percent, Danvers officials gathered recently to discuss how to maintain the town's level of affordability, floating ideas such as broadening its inclusionary zoning rules, actively seek a large Ch. 40B project or creating a downtown overlay district that would allow housing on upper floors.

HAMILTON --- Faced with community opposition to its plans to build 108 apartments on Longmeadow Way, Harborlight Community Partners has told the town it is willing to split up its proposal to other locations and has asked the town to suggest other places where it could build.

FALMOUTH --- A 40-unit affordable housing complex proposed for Spring Bars Road received a significant local boost as selectmen have approved $750,000 to support the project, which is scheduled to be ready in two years. The project is being developed by Affirmative Investments on an 11-acre site the town purchased in 2010 using $2.5 million in CPA funds.