Housing Headlines

ORLEANS -- Developer Todd Thayer, who owns 15 acres in downtown Orleans, would like to remake the downtown with several phases of mixed-use development that would add 125 to 225 apartments.

BOSTON --- Current high-level developer interest in Dudley Square has prompted city officials to move more quickly on crafting an updated plan for the district’s growth. The city said its focus will be on preserving community assets, capitalize on underutilized sites, develop growth strategies that consider current and future residents and review the Roxbury Master Plan to see if it's current with community goals and needs.

NEW BEDFORD --- Thirty three years after she opened her first shelter to help the homeless, Sister Rosellen Gallogly was on hand for the dedication of the Sister Rose House, a 25-bed men's shelter in a former church in the city's South End neighborhood. The shelter, which will include a job training center, a commercial grade kitchen, a community garden and private beds, is expected to open mid-March.

BOSTON --- In announcing that a piece of state-owned land at the southern entrance to downtown Boston is going on the market, Gov. Charlie Baker took the opportunity to say that far too much of the state's land is sitting vacant and he pledged to make hundreds of state-owned properties easier to acquire and build on.

BOSTON --- Two Boston City Council members are filing a measure that would put a 1 percent property tax surcharge before the voters in November. If the measure makes the ballot and is passed, Boston would be adopting the Community Preservation Act, which allows community to use funds raised from the surcharge for affordable housing, open space and historic preservation.

GLOUCESTER --- Developer Craig Miller, who bought the former Ocean View Inn in Gloucester for $5.17 million, has indicated he may pursue a Ch. 40B permit so he may redevelop buildings and land on the property into a single-family home, condos and duplexes totaling 29 units. Nearby residents are said to prefer a residential development over another commercial business at the site.