Housing Headlines

OAK BLUFFS --- At a brainstorming session to discuss how the six towns on Martha's Vineyard could work cooperatively to build more affordable housing, the executive director of the Community Coalition said the Island has been a leader in taking a regional approach to CPA spending.

SOMERVILLE --- Booming Union Square, which is seeing new housing and commercial activity in advance of gettinga new MBTA Green Line branch by 2017, will be soon adding a new arts venue as an investor group associated with rock 'n roll promoter Don Law has bought the old post office at 237 Washington St.

AMHERST --- A local development company's quest to seek a special permit to build a five-story mixed-use building with four commercial spaces and 78 market-rate units on the second through fifth floors has drawn a cool reception from some local officials, who feel the building will be out of character with the downtown.

BOSTON --- The state has unveiled new plans for a $25 million commuter rail station as part of a $260 million improvement project to develop the rail yards along the Mass Pike in the Allston-Brighton area of the city.

WESTPORT --- A local developer has indicated plans to build 16 affordable three- and four-bedroom homes to sell between $200,000 and $216,000 as part of a second phase of the Briggs Landing, a 40B homeownership development that generated 89 homes (23 affordable) during phase 1.

QUINCY --- Neighbors and pro-union groups are protesting Avalon Bay's plan to build 398 apartments next to the 394-unit High Point Apartments. Neighbors are arguing that Avalon Bay should go through the public process again, even though the property it bought from the High Point developers had its permits extended to 2016 by the city due to the recession.