Housing Headlines

TRURO --- Faced with the lowest percentage of affordable housing on the Cape, Truro housing advocates are trying to obtain control of 7.3 acres of state-owned land for affordable housing. The land is owned by the state Dept. of Transportation.

LEOMINSTER --- The nonprofit Twin Cities CDC of Fitchburg has proposed to turn the former Carter Junior High into 40 units of affordable housing, and it will be holding community meetings to explain to residents how this will impact the neighborhood and help the city.

In a strong editorial, the Lawrence Eagle Tribune chides communities for the usual ways in which they resist housing development and work with developers to build more housing. The paper writes, "Instead of standing in the way, trying to delay and harass any new development, we need to embrace growth and plan for it. That means working with developers to create better projects, rather than simply grumbling about changing times and trying to slam the community door shut on newcomers."

HYANNIS --- In an op-ed piece in the Cape Cod Times, a family therapist argues that the best way to fight downtown Hyannis' homeless problem is to provide more housing and support services that will provide people with the stability to live on their own.

MEDFIELD --- While affordable housing is becoming an acknowledged need throughout Greater Boston, it did not score well in a survey of town residents about what to do with the 134-acre Medfield State Hospital, now owned by the town. According to the Medfield Press, a survey found that sports fields and park space were preferred and 75 percent responded negatively to housing as an outcome.

BEDFORD --- Construction is proceeding on 70 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans age 55 and older on the grounds of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital.