Housing Headlines

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.

WESTPORT --- The Westport Affordable Housing Trust Fund has expressed support for the special permit application submitted by The Community Builders to build 50 units of mixed-income housing on town-owned land. TCB has been working with the town and the trust for the last four years to develop this property in accordance with the town's housing production plan.

NEWBURYPORT - After proposing 62 units last year, local builder David Hall of Hall and Moskow, came back before the zoning board of appeals with a new plan for a former truck yard on Rt. 1 that includes 48 separate units and a 10-unit lodging house that will be managed by the YWCA, which is now a limited partner in the project.

TAUNTON --- The Neighborhood Corporation - a local nonprofit formerly called Weir Corp. - continued its revitalization of the Weir Village industrial area as it has completed work on turning an old contaminated paint factory site into a duplex with two affordable three-bedroom apartments for families. The effort was spearheaded by TNC board chair Larry Silvia and Joseph Pacheco, who has become an unpaid acting director while also running Pro Home, another local nonprofit.

ROXBURY --- The redevelopment of the former Bartlett Yard MBTA site into a mixed-use development with 60 housing units and retail space has hit a snag, with the city-appointed Project Review Committee questioning whether letting a charter school lease the commercial space can be defined as economic development.