Housing Headlines

GLOUCESTER --- In one of three scheduled community meetings to discuss plans to redevelop the former Cameron's Restaurant into affordable housing, two nonprofit organizations which hope to buy and redevelop the site said their plans include ground-floor retail space with 30 to 40 apartments on the upper floors. Action Inc. and Salem-based North Shore Community Development Coalition have secured a purchase and sale to buy the building. Their plan is to raze it and seek financing from the state to develop affordable apartments on the upper floors.

SOMERVILLE --- In an effort to help younger residents remain in the city, a working group is considering changes to the city's housing policy that would give low-income residents financial assistance when buying properties and increase the number of smaller housing units in the city. No funding source has been identified yet. The city currently distributes almost $500,000 per year to support similar programs for tenants, using federal and state grants, city funds and Community Preservation Act funds.

NORTON --- In his regular commentary for the Attleboro Sun, columnist Bill Gouveia - who is also the Norton town moderator - argues that the 188-unit Ch. 40B development currently under construction is just what the town needs.

PROVINCETOWN --- At least three town officials are questioning the selectmen's decision to seek data showing that at least 1.5 percent of the town's habitable land is used for affordable housing, which if so would give the town greater latitude over Ch. 40B applications like the current proposal for 350 Bradford St., which has stirred significant resident opposition.

GREAT BARRINGTON --- The town's zoning board of appeals is continuing to hold hearings on whether to grant a nonprofit developer a Ch. 40B permit so that an 11-unit affordable housing development can be built on a 12-acre parcel on State Road. Previously, the selectmen, planning board and board of health have all voted to support the project.

NEW BEDFORD --- Standard-Times reporters Kathleen McKiernan and Mike Lawrence portray what life is like in a long-standing homeless camp, which has drawn public attention recently after a series of assaults brought police to the site and revealed that a young child was among the dozen or so people living there. Mayor Jon Mitchell has called for a meeting with homeless advocacy organizations to see what can be done to help the people who have been living on this property for years.