Housing Headlines

NATICK --- In an ongoing effort to reduce vacancy rates at its properties, the Natick Housing Authority is planning to renovate a two-family home into two two-bedroom apartments and to turn the Coolidge House on South Main St. into 10 one-bedroom apartments.

BILLERICA --- Residents on Alpine Road are hopeful they can prevail upon developer Ray Cormier of Andover to reduce his preliminary plans to build 180 to 200 apartments in a neighborhood of predominantly small single-family homes.

CHELSEA --- Long tarnished by its economic woes which landed it in state receivership in the 1990s, Chelsea seems be on a continual rebound given its close proximity to Boston. Latest evidence is the availability of nine micro unit condos ranging from 285 to 445 square feet. The asking price begins at $200,000.

BEDFORD - The VA hospital recently celebrated the groundbreaking of an affordable housing development for veterans in Bedford. Located on a four-acre parcel on the VA hospital's campus, the development will consist of 70 affordable units for veterans with a priority given to veterans 55 and older. The complex is expected to open in spring 2016.

DORCHESTER --- About 100 people attended a public meeting to ask the Boston Redevelopment Authority and developer Demetrios Dasco's plans to transform a group of parcels along Dorchester Ave. into a mixed-use development featuring 429 housing units in a mix of rentals, condominiums, and affordable housing; roughly 73,000 square feet of retail space; and up to 450 parking spaces. Known as the DOT Block development, developers say the cost is currently between $100and $150 million.

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.