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.

SPRINGFIELD --- Nearly 10 years after declaring war on chronic homelessness, the City of Springfield is seeing results as homelessness is down considerably due to a series of measures that included providing shelter and support services, permanent housing and the construction of a 24-hour homeless assistance center.

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.