Housing Headlines

NANTUCKET --- A new study commissioned by the nonprofit Housing Nantucket found that homeownership is out of reach for 90 percent of the Island's year-round residents. The study, done by RKG Associates, suggested several approaches the Island could take to tackling its workforce housing problem, including developing rental housing on town-owned land, seeking special legislation to establish a housing bank and committing all Community Preservation Act funding to housing, except for statutory set-asides for open space and historic preservation.

PROVINCETOWN --- Neighbors and abutters are increasingly concerned about a developer's plan to use a Ch. 40B permit to turn the former Michael Shay's restaurant into 24 units of affordable housing. Three residents have hired an attorney and recently a drone with a camera was used to illustrate where the roofline of the proposed 45 foot building would be in relation to the rest of the buildings in the neighborhood.

MEDWAY --- A temporary moratorium on sewer line extensions passed at a March special town meeting could slow or stop Timber Crest LLC's bid to seek a Ch. 40B permit from the town to build 192 units.

WOBURN --- The state's Housing Appeals Committee has directed the city's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to issue permits for the controversial 168-unit Ledges at Woburn affordable housing project. The ZBA had denied The Dolben Company's modified comprehensive permit in 2012 on grounds construction on the hilly site would unduly burden neighbors.

KINGSTON --- The town is beginning to see some units from its 12-year-old inclusionary zoning bylaw as a local builder has bought and renovated three homes for residents who qualify for affordable housing. The builder opted to create the affordable units off site from his development, which is an option under the town's bylaw.

NORWELL --- More than two-thirds of Town Meeting voters chose to transfer the former police station site to the town's Community Housing Trust for an affordable housing complex rather than sell the land for $1 to the American Legion or put the property out to bid.