Housing Headlines

WORCESTER - City officials are going after five nonprofit housing groups to recoup up to $3.7 million in federal housing funds that they say were spent on items ineligible for federal reimbursement, but one CDC official said the city administration has distorted and exaggerated the federal concerns because it is directing its housing strategy away from affordable housing.

MILTON --- Earlier in May, town meeting approveed a zoning change that would allow the construction of a 92-unit assisted-living facility on Randolph Avenue. Elm Development Services LLC of Longmeadow is seeking to build a 92-unit facility on the site of the former Horseplay Stables. Of the units, 30 would be for people with health issues related to memory loss and five percent of the units would be affordable.

AMHERST --- Selectmen have voted 3-1 in favor of a town meeting warrant that would ask voters to appropriate funds to buy and preserve the affordability of Echo Village Apartments, which stands to lose 24 affordable units if the new owners go through with their plans to raise rents to market levels.

BEVERLY --- Two new housing developments, both within a few blocks of the Beverly commuter rail station, will add a total of 46 new units of affordable housing to the downtown neighborhood. North Shore Veterans Counseling Services will redevelop a former rooming house at 45 Broadway into 14 single rooms. The building will also contain an outreach center, offering drug and alcohol awareness counseling and post-traumatic stress disorder counseling to veterans in the region. Additionally, Windover Construction will transform a former box factory at 60 Pleasant Street into 32 studio apartments.

PEABODY --- The city council has approved a housing plan that is aimed at fending off unwanted multi-family affordable housing developments. The plan, which must be approved by the legislature, identifies areas where so-called "friendly 40Bs" might go.

FRAMINGHAM --- When it comes to dealing with housing developers seeking Ch. 40B comprehensive permits, towns in MetroWest are taking a variety of approaches. For example, while Natick received nearly $2 million in mitigation from AvalonBay Communities to deal with the financial impacts of its Avalon Natick development, Westborough recently approved a new complex that officials say will cost the towns millions each year without any benefit from the developer.