Housing Headlines

LITTLETON --- An economic self-assessment test paid for by a community compact grant from the Baker-Polito Administration shows that Littleton could improve its economic development by adding sewer capacity in the downtown and by making permitting more efficient, according to Northeastern Professor Barry Bluestone, who analyzed the test. Bluestone also suggested the town could do more to increase its supply of housing.

DANVERS --- Town Meeting approved an article calling for a ballot question for the Nov. election which will ask voters whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act, a local tax surcharge that raises funds for historic and open space preservation and affordable housing.

BOSTON --- Boston Globe housing scribe Tim Logan uses MHP housing permit data to show this housing boom happening in fewer places than the one 11 years ago.

FALMOUTH --- A Falmouth nonprofit is in the process of applying to the town's Community Preservation Committee about using CPA funds to run a housing assistance program after the town shut down a similar program run by the housing authority after questions arose about how the funds were used.

BOSTON --- Gov. Charlie Baker outlined $160.5 million in new funds over the next five years to build and preserve housing for low- and middle-income residents and homeless families. Much of the money will go to preserve existing affordable housing, apartments in privately owned buildings that were financed decades ago but could soon be rented at market rates. By offering to refinance those properties through the state, Baker said he hopes to preserve some 3,300 apartments that would otherwise go on the open market.

BOSTON --- Burnt out of her apartment, Marilyn Dalsan tells Globe's Kevin Cullen about her new reality: the working poor can't find an affordable place to live in Boston.