Housing Headlines

NORWOOD --- A consultant hired by a private resident to determine whether Norwood has complied with the state's affordable housing law has reportedly found that the town is exempt due to the amount of land that is used for affordable housing. Town officials have received approval from selectmen to sit down with the consultant, Richard Heaton, to compare his findings with the town's data. The town is currently evaluating or anticipating several Ch. 40B proposals.

PITTSFIELD --- With the city's main homeless shelter filled to capacity, a community meeting was held recently to brainstorm how the region can handle the growing number of homeless individuals and families.

SOMERVILLE --- City officials are loaning the Somerville Community Corporation $500,000 to turn the old American Legion in East Somerville into mixed low-income and market rate housing.

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) recently approved four new projects with 165 units designated as affordable. The first development will consist of two mixed-use buildings in the South End. The buildings will contain 602 units of housing (78 affordable units), 33,500 square feet of ground floor retail, restaurant and amenity space. The second development will consist of 66 affordable apartments in Chinatown. The third development will consist of 44 rental units (10 affordable units), 4,124 square feet of retail space and community gardens in the Mission Hill neighborhood. The fourth project will feature 80 rental units (11 affordable units), 1,715 square feet of commercial space, a 562 square foot retail space and three community rooms in Allston.

LUNENBURG --- Two local developers have recently proposed converting the old Primary School into 40 units of affordable housing for seniors. The Eagle Height project would consist of one- and two-bedroom apartments. The developers had initially tried to receive financing for the project through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) but are now looking for state grants. Developers hope to have financing in place by 2015.

SOMERVILLE --- A report about the housing impact of extending the Green Line into Somerville is warning that rents could skyrocket by as much as 67 percent in some areas and put lower-income residents at risk of being displaced.