Housing Headlines

Noting that "every day, 13 acres of forests and farmland are being lost to low-density, residential sprawl," the Cape Cod Times has editorialized in support of "An Act Promoting the Planning and Development of Sustainable Communities" which would update Massachusetts laws and is aimed at encouraging more housing and mixed-use developments.

CAMBRIDGE --- The Cambridge Housing Authority has plans to use proceeds from a $30.8 million bond from MassDevelopment to demolish and reconstruct the Jefferson Park apartments in North Cambridge. The project will create a 104-unit affordable multifamily housing complex, with 32 one-bedroom units, 53 two-bedroom units and 19 three-bedroom units.

BOSTON --- Boston Community Ventures has filed plans to build a mixed-use building with 44 units at the intersection of Washington and Green streets, just steps from the Green Street Orange Line stop in Jamaica Plain.

BOSTON --- Boston Globe contributor Renee Loth opines that it's time for Boston to adopt the Community Preservation Act, arguing that it would provide valuable funds for housing, historic and open space preservation, and that by not having it, the city has missed out on over $300 million in state matching funds that the law provides. The city council is being asked to consider putting the ordinance on the November ballot.

SALISBURY --- The town's zoning board of appeals has taken two big steps to increase affordable housing, giving the green light to the construction of up to 42 units of affordable housing on two town-owned sites - the former Spalding School on Main St. and a cleaned-up brownfield at 29 elm St.

DORCHESTER --- Rhode Island based Peregrine Group is partnering with St. Marks Area Main Street to buy the Codman Square Health Center at 1943 Dorchester Avenue and replace it with a five-story, 64-unit apartment building that will include eight affordable units and 2,200 square feet of ground floor commercial space that the health center would have an option to lease.