Housing Headlines

FRAMINGHAM --- Seth and Christine Terramane's efforts to downsize from their Waltham apartment and build a 200-square foot home behind a Framingham church is the latest example of a building interest in the so-called "tiny house" movement that has been popularized on cable stations like HGTV. The Terramanes say there is so much interest that they are starting a local chapter of the Greater Boston Tiny Housing Enthusiasts and the town of Natick has also formed a Tiny House Study Committee.

WINCHESTER --- In preparing to decide whether to support a developer's bid to seek a Ch. 40B permit to build 96 units on 2.69 acres, selectmen discussed the matter at a public meeting recently in which residents voiced concerns about the building's proposed height (four stories), traffic, lack of sidewalks and the number of units on such a small site.

BOSTON --- Developer Doug George has submitted plans to the Boston Redevelopment Authority to build a mixed-use development with 38 units on South Huntington Ave. in Mission Hill. The six-story building would have one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with five of the units affordable.

SUDBURY --- The planning board has elected a new chairman due in part to the fact that former chairman Craig Lizotte has had to recuse himself from discussions from two Ch. 40B proposals because he used to work for an architectural company that is part of one of the development teams applying to the town for a comprehensive permit.

BROCKTON --- With the zoning board of appeal's recent approval of Avalon Bay's 290-unit affordable housing complex, the town has announced that at least 10 percent of its housing is considered affordable by the state, meaning it can now follow local zoning guidelines when developments are proposed.

BOSTON --- Demolition of the deteriorating 331-unit Orient Heights public housing complex in East Boston could start later this year as Boston-based Trinity Financial has filed a letter of intent with the city to do the $150 million revitalization in four phases beginning this fall.