Housing Headlines

YARMOUTH --- The town's efforts to create zoning that would encourage redevelopment of some of its Rt. 28 motel sites ran into stiff opposition recently as 130 residents packed a public meeting to voice their displeasure at a proposal by Dakota Partners to build 120 apartments on the site of the former Cavalier Motor Lodge and Bass River Motel.

WEST TISBURY --- Members of the long-established Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) and the more recently established All-Island Planning Board (AIPB), met recently to discuss how the six Island towns can work together to address Island-wide issues. The agenda was dominated by affordable housing and an MVC-commissioned study that will produce a housing plan for all six towns.

BOSTON --- Former City Councilor Mike Ross argues that Boston continues to build housing it no longer needs and needs to build more larger multi-unit apartment buildings. Ross said since 2000, 18 percent of all new housing was single-family homes and the number of single-family homes was more than all structures built between five and 19 units.

BOSTON --- An abandoned industrial property right by a Fairmount Line stop is expected to transform into a site for mixed-income housing and local jobs. The city recently granted approval to a development team lead by the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation to create the so-called Indigo Block project, located at 65 East Cottage Street in Dorchester’s Upham’s Corner. The proposals for the 2.75 acre property includes 80 apartments (44 affordable), nine condos and a two-story commercial building.

WAREHAM – The Wareham Housing Authority has been contacted by the chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company of Wareham and asked to partner with the firm in developing a mixed-use development on Main Street that will include an affordable housing element.

FRAMINGHAM — After receiving approval earlier this year to build a new entertainment complex on Flutie Pass, an Ohio developer wants to expand the project to include 136 new apartments and a parking deck on the upper floors.