Housing Headlines

SPRINGFIELD --- State and local officials gathered in downtown Springfield recently to celebrate the $9.45 million renovation of four buildings and 47 affordable apartments that were badly damaged when a tornado ripped through the city on June 1, 2011. The properties are owned and managed by Home City Housing, a Springfield-based non-profit.

BOSTON --- State officials have teamed up with cities and towns north of Greater Boston to put together a list of developer-friendly neighborhoods and parcels. The list includes Charlestown's Sullivan Square, Revere Beach, downtown Malden and the East Boston waterfront. report builds upon previous regional planning efforts completed during the Patrick Administration, including the South Coast Rail Corridor Plan and the 495/Metrowest Development Compact Plan.

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.

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.

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.

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.