Housing Headlines

STONEHAM --- Despite the Zoning Board of Appeal's approval of the Weiss Farm 40B with conditions last month, the town's long-running battle with Corcoran Company and the state is far from over. The town expects that Corcoran will appeal the ZBA's decision to approve 124 units instead of the proposed 259. In addition, the town is continuing to press in court its contention that it has achieved "safe harbor" from 40B because 1.5 percent of its land has affordable housing. The town feels the state has denied it information concerning the status of group homes that would help prove its case.

EASTON --- With the issuance of building permits for AvalonBay's 290-unit apartment development, 10 percent of Easton's housing is now considered affordable. In a column in the Easton Journal, Selectman David Colton wrote, "Our compliance puts Easton in a small group of about 15 percent of municipalities statewide who have met the statutory requirements of Chapter 40B. Beyond simply complying with the law, this collaborative project will ultimately provide more housing options for Easton residents, additional tax revenue for the Town and new customers for local businesses."

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.