Housing Headlines

AMHERST --- A private organization may soon help people find affordable housing in Amherst in an effort to encourage home ownership and prevent neighborhoods from being overrun by student-rental properties.

WEST BOYLSTON --- The Northborough man who wants to buy land from the town and build housing has promised that he would not pursue a Ch. 40B permit but would instead construct eight homes on the 11-acre site. The parcel is part of the 40-acre Malden Brook Farm, most of which has been protected from development by the state or because it abuts wetlands. Eleven acres were not protected by the state and have been deemed suitable for housing.

FRANKLIN --- A little bit of history was made on Sat., July 26 as the town held a lottery for the first home purchased by the town's municipal affordable housing trust. The two-bedroom home on Landry St. was purchased by the trust for $253,000 and will be sold to the lottery winner - a Franklin couple - for $160,000 after the trust used its funds to reduce the purchase price.

FOXBORO --- Concerned about the impact of a 20-unit, 5.5 acre homeownership subdivision proposal that would be built with a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit, one nearby resident brought her 10-year-old son to a zoning board of appeals meeting to help illustrate neighborhood concerns about traffic. In addition to traffic and child safety, residents at the hearing also voiced concerns about drainage, the impact of blasting ledge, water quality and fears that the development could decrease property values.

VINEYARD HAVEN --- The Martha's Vineyard Commission has determined that a proposed six-unit affordable rental housing development next to a super market in the the busy Five Corners intersection in Vineyard Haven would not contribute to traffic problems or have other adverse affects on the community.

DANVERS --- In a bid to bring more bustle to downtown streets, Danvers officials are pursuing changes that could entice property owners in the area to include a mix of housing and businesses in their buildings. The town has hired the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to help develop zoning changes that would allow mixed-use developments in the town center, with a particular goal of adding housing to the vacant floors above downtown stores.