Housing Headlines

(Aug. 8, 2015) --- In an op-ed piece for Fox News, former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown urges presidential candidates in New Hampshire to talk housing because there's a shortage of affordable housing in the Granite State and voters are concerned about it.

WOBURN --- Four towns in the Woburn Daily Times newspaper company's coverage area are wrestling with Ch. 40B housing proposals totalling 341 units. Two towns - Woburn and Stoneham - are contesting in court the state's decision to overturn each town's denial of a 40B permit while Reading and Winchester are just beginning to debate the merits of Ch. 40B proposals before them.

WALTHAM --- After spending just under $5 million to remodel the Banks School into 24 condominiums for seniors 62 years of age or older, the city has received no bids to buy the building outright and will now begin the process of marketing and selling the condos individually, Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy says. The building includes three affordable units priced at $235,000.

BOSTON --- Gov. Charlie Baker has signed a law creating a 15-member rural policy commission to help small towns across Massachusetts deal with common issues small towns face on such issues as economic development, health and housing. The measure was pitched by Rep. Dan Kulik and Dan Wolf following a year-long process of discussions and public meetings of a steering committee convened by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership.

DORCHESTER --- Disgusted with the condition of their apartment building, the site of strangers smoking crack in the hallways and the apparent failure of building management to do anything about it even after attracting the notice of the city, more than 40 tenants and community organizers - including City Councilor Ayanna Presley - gathered recently outside 200 Hancock St. to protest unsafe and unsanitary conditions in their building.

BARNSTABLE --- While packing his moving van, freelance writer Jeff Harder articulates why he, his wife and so many other young people are leaving the Cape. This story illustrates why MHP worked with rural and Cape leaders for over a year on what could be done to address the cost of housing and stem the loss of people young and old. This resulted in Gov. Baker okaying a rural policy commission.