Housing Headlines

WORCESTER --- City Manager Michael O'Brien submitted his letter of resignation on Nov. 20 to take a job with WinnDevelopment, a Boston-based national real estate firm that specializes in affordable housing.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- In the town's ongoing efforts to create safer affordable housing after Hurricane Irene floodwaters destroyed much an affordable mobile home park, selectmen voted unanimously in November to commit $2.6 million to a proposed 40-unit affordable housing project that would be built on a four-acre site donated by Williams College.

LOWELL --- A Westford Street building that once housed Paige Pharmacy has been transformed by the Caleb Group into 10 affordable one-bedroom apartments for young men transitioning out of the state's foster care program.

DEVENS -- A development team from Lexington could soon begin drafting plans to turn 35 acres at the former Fort Devens military base into 120 new housing units. MassDevelopment, the state agency that controls the Devens redevelopment, voted recently to negotiate an agreement with Evergreen Village Collaborative, a Lexington-based team that includes developers, builders and designers. The group has proposed to build a "walkable neighborhood" project with 40 large and small single-family homes, 40 duplex and townhome units and 40 rental apartments,

NORWELL --- Selectmen are considering sending a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick outlining their opposition to the state's affordable housing law after the town's zoning board of appeals OK'd a Ch. 40B permit for a 126-unit project on 17.5 acres known as Simon Hill.

CENTERVILLE --- Lack of interest in applying to buy an affordable home built by Habitat for Humanity has Cape Cod housing advocates wondering whether there's a stronger need for rental or if better outreach is needed to make more people aware of these homeownership opportunities.