Housing Headlines

DORCHESTER --- With a $3 million long-term loan commitment, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership was one of the participants in a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction for the Whittier Lyndhurst Washington Homes development in Codman Square, a $20 millin scattered site project that will create 44 affordable apartments. (Dorchester Reporter)

AMHERST --- After more than four years running the Amherst Housing Authority, Denise LeDuc is retiring as executive director and is slated to become the director of finance at the HIlltown CDC. <I>(Daily Hampshire Gazette) </I>

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.