Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority is taking preliminary steps toward rezoning part of Dorchester Ave. north of the Andrew MBTA station to promote a walkable, transit-accessible hub with apartments, green space and storefronts, remaking an area that now is home to many small industrial businesses.

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.