Housing Headlines

NEWTON --- After voting 6-1 in favor of a controversial proposal to turn an Austin St. municipal parking lot into 68 apartments with 17 affordable units, the Board of Alderman's Land Use Committee asked that the proposal be referred back to them for a review of the conditions imposed on the developer.

QUINCY - Supporters of a zoning change that would force downtown developers to invest in affordable housing say skyrocketing rental costs are pushing residents out, and builders across the city should share the burden of funding reasonably priced units.

NANUCKET --- Voters at Special Town Meeting approved a pair of zoning proposals that will allow increased building density in exchange for the creation of affordable housing,

BOSTON --- The latest report on the mayor's housing plan found the city building middle income housing at 85 percent of the speed needed to reach its 2030 goals.

SANDWICH --- The buyer of an affordable home in a mixed-income Ch. 40B homeownership development is locked in a battle with the town over whether she can sell her home at any price, a waiver the town gave her after she agreed to reduce the number of bedrooms from three to two so she could lower her septic system costs.

CHELMSFORD --- At town meeting, voters passed by a two-third majority a measure that would allow inclusionary zoning in two overlay districts - the town center and commercially zoned areas. Developers will be asked to make 20 percent of units affordable or make payments into a housing fund.