Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- With strong financial support from local groups, the non-profit East Boston Community Development Corp. has pulled off what it thought might be impossible, purchasing 36 small apartment buildings for $47 million and financing it so all 114 apartments will have affordable rents "“It’s difficult to express what this means for our community," said East Boston CDC Executive Director Al Caldarelli. "We are reclaiming some of the housing that has been snatched up by private investors. We are reclaiming space for our families to live.”

NAHANT --- The deadline has passed for tenants of what is known as “Coast Guard” housing to vacate. Tenants of the property on Castle Road and Goddard Drive got eviction notices in September 2021 and were given a year to find another place to live. The town plans to sell the property to pay off the loan for the purchase.

WINCHESTER --- Planner Brian Szekely recently led a discussion with town officials about the state's new multifamily zoning requirement for MBTA communities. The discussion focused on compliance deadlines and how creating a zoning district of 15 units per acre might impact neighborhoods around Winchester's two train stations. “This legislation is all about the housing shortage,” Szekely said, adding the Boston area added jobs but not housing.

NEWTON -- A developer plans to build a six-story, 244-unit apartment building with a mix of one- two- and three-bedroom affordable rentals on Route 9. Toll Brothers recently submitted an application to MassHousing under Chapter 40B to build the project. The 5.82-acre site at 528 Boylston St. is made up of multiple parcels with different uses.

SALEM --- Under the city's new ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units, homeowners can apply for a grant up to $47,500 for the design and construction of the ADU. Salem hopes to increase the affordable housing inventories through homeowners renting out a portion of their homes at discounted rates

WINCHESTER -- A developer is proposing to build 60 mixed-income apartments on a town-owned site at the corner of Washington and Swanton. Rent would range from $1,242 for a one-bedroom, to $2,618 for a three-bedroom. The proposed project by Melanson Development will go before town meeting in November. The town purchased the vacant commercial site last year after several private proposals to develop the site failed to come to fruition.