Housing Headlines

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.

BROOKLINE --- While the owner of a property across from Brookline High is moving forward with plans for a seven-story, 99-unit apartment building, town officials voted Tuesday to spend $50,000 to evaluate the property for a potential high school expansion or other municipal use.

ATTLEBORO --- Little protest was heard during a public hearing before the city council and zoning board on plans to make a zoning change to allow WinnDevelopment to redevelop an old factory into 103 units of over-55 housing, with 51 percent of the units affordable.

MEDFORD --- Medford’s Community Development Board is reviewing a proposal for a new 490-unit, three-building apartment complex at the former Shaw’s supermarket site across from Meadow Glen Mall.

SOMERVILLE --- The Board of Alderman have strengthened Somerville's inclusionary zoning bylaw, voting to increase the percentage of affordable units to 20 percent in projects of 18 units or more and 17.5 percent for projects from eight to 17 units. Previously, only 12.5 percent of units had to be affordable for projects of eight units or more.