Housing Headlines

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.

REVERE --- One week before being ousted by 117 votes by City Councilor Brian Arrigo, Mayor Dan Rizzo called for a moratorium on any residential building projects over two units, saying he was reacting to concerns from residents about too much residential development.

WORCESTER - A federal judge has struck down two city anti-panhandling ordinances as unconstitutional, reversing his earlier ruling in light of a recent Supreme Court decision and decisions striking down similar ordinances in Lowell and Maine.

BOSTON --- In a Sunday editorial, the Boston Globe reasons its fine to have affordability requirements for luxury housing but those same requirements inhibit the construction of housing in working class neighborhoods. The Globe argues that affordable requirements should be reduced or eliminated in these neighborhoods, which would promote more new housing and take the pressure off three deckers and traditional housing for families.

AMESBURY --- The city has been utilizing the state Attorney General's receivership program to address blighted properties. Since 2014, the city has worked with the AG to move on eight properties. Thus far, the program has compelled four owners to fix their properties, two are in receivership and two are in court.