Housing Headlines

MELROSE --- Melrose Planning Board has approved permits for a 40-unit mixed-use development at the VFW facility. The plan, by Waypoint Development, would preserve the Chipman Avenue space in the lower level, while reserving six units as affordable housing. The transit-oriented development includes an indoor bike rack and is steps from the Melrose Highlands Commuter Rail stop.

The "Out of Reach" report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition finds that in Massachusetts a person earning minimum wage would have to work 107 hours each week to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent or make at least $37.97 an hour for 40 hours. The Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area is the fifth most expensive metropolitan area in the country, only following four cities in California.

MANCHESTER --- With the final public hearing behind them, the Zoning Board of Appeals has begun deliberations on the request for a comprehensive permit by Strategic Land Ventures, which has proposed to build 136 apartments in an area known as Shingle Hill. In the final meeting, over 125 attended via zoom and all who spoke asked the ZBA to deny the project. ZBA Chair Sarah Mellish acknowledged resident concerns but also stated a denial will “likely” be overturned by the state's Housing Appeals Committee, which would mean the town would have no input on the project, including the many environmental protection waivers requested by SLV.

LAWRENCE --- Local legislators announced that $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds will be used by Essex County Habitat for Humanity, which is building two affordable homes in Lawrence. The Department of Housing and Community Development allocation to Habitat will fund construction of the foundation for the homes and purchase of cabinets, doors, flooring, and other building materials.

PEABODY --- Developer Ed Greeley is seeking a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit from the city in order to redevelop a mill building into 45 mixed-income apartments while at the same time asking the city to expand the neighborhood's mill overlay district to include another building at the site.

WORCESTER --- City councilors on Worcester’s economic development subcommittee have directed the city manager's office to draft an inclusionary zoning ordinance mandating that a minimum percentage of new housing units within private development projects be affordable for low- and moderate-income households. The affordable housing shortage has left about 50% of Worcester renters cost-burdened, meaning they’re paying over 30% of their income on rent and utilities.