Housing Headlines

NEWTON --- The often contentious debate over whether to allow developers to turn a municipal parking lot near the commuter rail into 68 apartments received some support as the Newton Tab published a strong editorial favoring the plan while chiding those who "would seemingly build a figurative wall around the Garden City, in order to preserve its character."

GLOUCESTER --- The only group to respond to the town's RFP for the 10.6 acre Fuller School property sketched out their plans for a mixed-use development recently. Plans for the site include 170 apartments, a new YMCA and retail space. The lone group to bid include Dolben Companies of Woburn, the North Shore Y, Windover Construction and Sam Park & Co.

BOSTON --- Gov. Charlie Baker last week signed into law a bill that clears the title of previously foreclosed-upon properties, curing the so-called Ibanez defects after a period of three years.

TYNGSBORO -- A developer is dropping his proposal to build an age-restricted apartment building complex off of Worden Road after a strong backlash from neighbors.

PROVINCETOWN --- With the addition of affordable units from the Stable Paths and Grace Gouveia housing developments, the state has informed Provincetown that 9.9 percent of its housing is affordable (210 units) and the town needs to create five more units to surpass 10 percent, which would give it safe harbor and more discretion over future development proposals.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- Almost five years after Tropical Storm Irene tore through a mobile home park and left 5 percent of the town's population homeless, the nonprofit created to address the situation is closing in on the completion of 40 affordable apartments known as Highland Woods. Built on land donated by Williams College, the development - co-developed with Berkshire Housing Development Corp. and the Women's Institute - is set to open in February.