Housing Headlines

BERLIN --- A groundbreaking was recently held for the third and fourth phases of the Riverbridge Village development. These two phases consist of a 105-room hotel and a 205-unit multifamily housing component. Of the 205 housing units, both condo and rental, 21 will be designated as affordable rental apartments.

BOSTON --- The Allston-Brighton Community Development Corp. held a community meeting Saturday to discuss the growing impact of students in their neighborhoods. According to Valerie Frias, associate director at Allston-Brighton CDC, the percentage of housing in the area occupied by someone other than the owner rose from 68 to 75 percent over the last two years.

NEWTON --- A group of Newton alderman are pressing forward with a proposal to put a one-year ban on residential tear downs and many home additions that they feel are ruining the look of the city.

HANOVER --- The developer of a 130-unit condo complex off Rt. 53 would pay $200,000 to the town in lieu of constructing affordable units and to mitigate concerns over increased traffic along that highway.

BOSTON --- Anthony Flint of the Lincoln Institute takes a look at development around Boston and how urban developers are taking a page from their suburban counterparts in naming their projects after the buildings and history they've just destroyed. He calls it "instant nostalgia."

EASTON --- The developers of two large-scale Ch. 40B affordable housing proposals totaling 541 units say their projects will bring more revenue into the town than it they will cost in local services.