Housing Headlines

MILTON --- Despite previous clashes with the town over its denial of his plan to build three homes on 12 acres, developer Todd Hamilton is confident that his new proposal for the site - 77 townhouses - will move quickly through the town's Ch. 40B process. Hamilton's previous attempt to seek a special permit through the plannng board resulted in him accusing longtime planning board chair Alex Whiteside of having a conflict of interest and then running against and losing to the five-term planning board member this past spring.

BOSTON, Sept. 11, 2013 --- MHP Executive Director Clark Ziegler cites evidence showing that many baby boomers aren't selling their homes, meaning we're going to need to build more homes for young families.

VINEYARD HAVEN --- The Island Housing Trust (IHT) has signed a purchase and sale agreement with Ronald and Margaret Jackson to purchase a six-unit apartment building, one of four in the Village Court complex on State Road in Vineyard Haven. IHIT has until the end of the year to finance the $600,000 acquisition. IHT Executive Director Phillippe Jordi said additional funds - possibly from the Community Preservation Act - will be used to renovate the units and he expects the one-bedroom units will rent for $700 a month and the two-bedroom units for $840 to qualified low-income working Island families and individuals.

LAKEVILLE --- The state's Department of Housing and Community Development has concluded that not all of the 204 units at Lakeville Station will count towards the town's affordable housing inventory because the development cannot be viewed as one project but rather astwo apartment buildings that operate separately, with all of the affordable units located in the 104-unit Kensington Court phase.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- Almost two years after floodwaters sparked by Hurricane Irene destroyed more than 200 residences in the Spruces Mobile Home Park, selectmen voted last month to buy the property, which would be the first step toward the town finding new, safer affordable homes for the 66 families that still live there. Town meeting must still OK the $600,000 purchase as the town continues to pursue several sites in town for affordable housing development.

BOSTON --- Following up on his springtime goal of seeing the City of Boston build 30,000 new homes by 2020, Mayor Thomas Menino is putting forth a plan to help the city get there. The plan includes allowing taller structures with smaller units, selling public land to developers at a discount, and using subsidies to spur development of more affordable housing.