Housing Headlines

WRENTHAM --- Town officials are gearing up to hear details about four large affordable housing development proposals, three of which are expected to rental developments of over 200 units. The fourth proposal - a plan for the former Crosby Valve site near downtown - is in the early stages, selectmen say.

SALEM --- A Danvers-based builder who has done approximately 20 home construction and renovation projects in Salem has an agreement to buy a former plumbing supply building on Bridge St., knock it down and construct four 1,500-square foot starter homes.

NORWELL --- The local housing trust's plans to turn the old police station into 14 units of affordable housing hinges on the May 4 town meeting, where residents will vote on whether to transfer the building to the trust, the American Legion or to put the property up for sale.

NEWTON --- In a March feature for Boston Magazine, reporter and Newton resident Lauren Gibbons Paul goes in depth on how a plan to turn an old firehouse into housing for the homeless turned neighbor against neighbor, and ultimately resulted in the city lifting a restriction so the property could be developed into luxury condos.

MARLBOROUGH --- Arguing that more than 10 percent of the town's housing is affordable, the lawyer for a developer who is proposing to build 60 townhouse condominiums is asking the city to let the developer pay $450,000 rather than include nine affordable units in the project. The city has an inclusionary zoning bylaw that requires all developments over 20 units to have 15 percent of units affordable but the developer is asking the city to amend this bylaw.

PROVINCETOWN --- After voting down to measures to buy land for affordable housing on the first night of town meeting, voters came back on the second night and voted down an article that proposed to transfer $1.1 million from the town's land bank fund to the CPA fund so it could also be used for affordable housing. During the discussion, one voter argued in favor of the measure by saying, "We need housing like we need oxygen."