Housing Headlines

DORCHESTER --- Earlier this month, the Boston Redevelopment Authority approved nine projects, two of which represent 800 units of new housing. Approved were the 362-unit, 37,000 square foot retail Dot Block development near Savin Hill T station and the 475-unit South Bay Town Center adjacent to the South Bay Mall.

READING --- The developer who is applying to the town for a Ch. 40B permit so he can build 77 units has asked for more time so he can revise his plans after buying the Brown's Automotive property. The land will be included in the development known as Reading Village and will impact the height, footprint and setbacks of the original proposal.

DORCHESTER --- The MBTA recently picked the development team of Preservation of Affordable Housing Inc. (POAH) and Nuestra Comunidad to develop a mixed-use project in an underused parking lot next to Mattapan Station. The team has proposed to build 135 apartments or condos and 10,000 square feet of commercial space. POAH's bid offers less housing and more commercial space than the one put forth by the other bidder, Trinity Financial.

BROOKLINE --- To mark the grand opening of the Brookline Housing Authority adding 32 new affordable apartments at its 86 Dummer Street site, the Brookline Tab profiled three people who were picked from a lottery process that attracted more than 1,900 applicants - a youth pastor, a mother of two and a grandmother.

FRAMINGHAM --- Town Meeting defeated a measure that would have allowed buildings up to 10 stories tall in certain parts of town in order to conserve open space elsewhere in the community.

SWAMPSCOTT --- Town Meeting voters approved a measure that would grant B'Nai B'Rith housing a 99-year ground lease so it can transform the 96-year-old Machon Elementary School into 38 one-bedroom units for seniors.