Housing Headlines

PLYMOUTH --- Ten years after it was first proposed, a long dormant 60-unit homeownership 40B has begun construction on the first 20 homes, much to the surprise of neighbors who reportedly thought the project was dead.

HINGHAM --- A 16-unit condominium development has been proposed for 895-901 Main Street. The development would be built under Chapter 40B with four of the units reserved as affordable for income-eligible buyers. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will complete its written decision on the project by the end of July.

WALTHAM --- Construction recently began on the first phase of apartments at a new complex dubbed "The Merc at Moody & Main". The mixed-use, transit-orientated development will consist of 269 new residences, of which 27 are affordable, 27,959 square feet of retail space, a 300-car garage and 92 surface parking spaces. The first apartments will be ready for occupancy in the summer of 2015 with project completion set for the following year.

BOSTON --- City and state officials recently celebrated the midway point of redevelopment at the Old Colony public housing site in the South Boston neighborhood. Work so far has included demolition of the 223 original apartments and construction of 129 new apartments. Construction is underway on the remaining 40 apartments, which will be ready for occupancy next year.

BOSTON --- Brighton Marine Health Center Inc. and WinnDevelopment recently announced plans to partner in order to create a 101-unit affordable rental complex for veterans and their families. The project would be built along Commonwealth Avenue with 80 percent of the units designated as affordable. Of the affordable units, 70 percent would be reserved for veterans and their families. The partner agencies will soon start the permitting process with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA).

PITTSFIELD --- Construction recently wrapped on the conversion of formerly vacant building on Federal Street into 14 apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space. Rents for the apartments range from $950 to $1,400/month for the one- and two-bedroom units. The project received $400,000 from the state Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) tax credit program.