Housing Headlines

SUDBURY --- With Raytheon set to close its Rte. 20 plant by 2016, town officials have signaled that they wouldn't mind seeing the site turned into an affordable housing development to help the town get closer to having 10 percent of its units considered affordable.

TISBURY --- The Tisbury zoning board of appeals (ZBA) unanimously approved a six-unit affordable rental apartment building on Water Street at a hearing on Friday. The written decision on a comprehensive permit for the Island Housing Trust's (IHT) project, with conditions, is expected to be finalized this week.

NORFOLK --- Plans to use Ch. 40B to build 28 for-sale homes on the town-owned 34-cacre "Boy Scout" land site has received initial praise from town leaders, who like Oxbow's Devevelopment's plans to cluster the homes, protect more open space and preserve wetlands. Oxbow recently completed a similar project in Wayland.

SOMERVILLE --- Mayor Joseph Curtatone recently released details of an affordable housing plan that calls for taxing home flippers and giving tax breaks to landlords who keep their rents low.

TOWNSEND --- With 24 rental apartments completed and rented within 30 days, the developers of the Ch. 40B Turnpike Village apartment complex say the 24-unit second phase will be completed and ready for occupancy by Jan. 2015.

PROVINCETOWN --- The topic of housing is dominating this town's search for a town manager, with the top candidate turning down the job due to the high cost of housing and a lack of professional jobs for his spouse, and the search committee reiterating that it's looking for a leader who can address the town's lack of housing and year-round jobs.