Housing Headlines

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.

NORTH ATTLEBORO --- Great Bridge Properties, a New Hampshire-based developer, has officially presented to the town its plan to seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit to build 66 affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, all affordable to families below 60 percent of median income. The development would be at the downtown's Jeweled Cross site.

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.

SALEM --- Residents attended a public meeting recently to discuss the impact of homeless families being placed in local hotels, a practice the state has been trying to reduce as it works to find permanent housing for the homeless. According to the Salem News, due to lack of capacity in state shelters, 181 families are living in three Danvers hotels as of Sept. 2.

QUINCY --- Five months after uncovering dozens of health and safety violations at Quincy Housing Authority apartments, state housing officials have announced they will fund more than $1.7 million worth of repairs to hundreds of public housing units.

NORWOOD --- The town has issued building permits to two affordable housing development proposals, thereby pushing it closer to having 10 percent of its housing considered affordable or the threshold that grants towns greater latitude if 1.5 percent of its land is being used for affordable housing.