Housing Headlines

EASTHAM --- The ongoing saga of whether the former Rt. 6 driving range will be developed or not took another turn this week as developer Richard Hayden of the Stratford Capital Group has backed off plans to build 110 units on the full 10-acre site, instead proposing to do 50 affordable tax credit units on six acres in partnership with the nonprofit Cape-based Community Development Partnership.

SPRINGFIELD --- By an 11-1 vote, the city council voted on Monday, July 19, to place before the voters a question on whether there should be a local tax surcharge of 1.5 percent to raise approximately $1 million annually to support historic preservation, open space and affordable housing. If approved by voters, Springfield would join more than 160 communities to have CPA.

DORCHESTER --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority has OK'd a $14 million proposal by the Peregrine Group to buy and build a 64-unit apartment complex at 1943 Dorchester Ave., which is currently owned by the Codman Square Health Center and houses the Odwin Learning Center. Peregrine proposes to knock the building down and replace it with a five-story building that will include 2,100 square feet of commercial space.

WINCHESTER --- Having failed to do a 12-unit subdivision on its property 12 years ago, the Marino family is now poised to sell its 13 acre property to Krebs Investor Group, which has filed plans to use Ch. 40B to build 296 units on the Stoneham-Winchester line, a plan that has caused concerns in both towns.

STOW --- Acting on its right of first refusal to buy a piece of agricultural land that it had granted a lower tax rate, the town's selectmen held a meeting to discuss the pros and cons of buying the property at 241 Boxboro Rd. and using it to build six units of affordable housing.

SUDBURY --- The town has met with the developer of a three-unit affordable housing development to discuss why the project is not yet complete and how the developer has spent $175,000 of the $292,000 the town has authorized to support the project through its local housing trust.