Housing Headlines

WASHINGTON --- The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Thursday that federal housing law allows people to challenge lending rules, zoning laws and other housing practices that have a harmful impact on minority groups, even if there is no proof that companies or government agencies intend to discriminate. In upholding the tactic, the high court preserved a legal strategy that has been used for more than 40 years to attack discrimination in zoning laws, occupancy rules, mortgage lending practices and insurance underwriting.

PROVINCETOWN --- Town Planner Gloria McPherson has warned selectmen that trying to claim safe harbor from Ch. 40B permits by proving that 1.5 percent of the town's developable land is used for affordable housing may discourage other developers and prevent the town from reaching its affordable housing goals.

BOSTON --- In a recent op-ed piece in Banker & Tradesman, B'nai B'rith Executive Director Susan Gittelman discusses the merits of House and Senate bills aimed at streamlining regulations for communities that want to build more housing.

BOSTON --- When it comes to opposing housing, Banker & Tradesman columnist Scott Van Voorhis sees a lot of bipartisanship.

MANCHESTER --- Facing the reality that one needs an annual income of at least $182,000 to afford a home in this upscale seaside community north of Boston, some in town are brainstorming on how they can use locally-collected Community Preservation Act funds to increase the supply of affordable housing.

BOSTON --- Sparked mostly by the production of low-income and luxury housing, Boston is off to a good start at reaching Mayor Martin Walsh's goal of creating 53,000 units by 2030 but some nonprofit leaders worry that the city needs to do more to create housing for middle income people and families.