Housing Headlines

REVERE --- Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki today announced $67 million in affordable housing resources and tax credits for 23 developments in 21 communities.

NORTH ANDOVER --- Over 60 residents packed the zoning board of appeal's first public meeting on whether to grant a developer a Ch. 40B permit to build 240 rental apartments on a former horse farm on Rt. 114.

WORCESTER --- The city has started foreclosure proceedings on a controversial May Street affordable apartment building so it can recoup and pay back some of the $2.3 million in public funds it used illegally to fund the project.

CANTON --- In an ongoing effort to improve energy efficiency in its apartment buildings, Peabody Properties has recently completed an energy overhaul on the Lamplighter Village apartment complex. Peabody has now partnered with the Low Energy Affordability Network (LEAN) and Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) to do energy audits and overhauls on 16 properties.

EASTON --- Selectmen recently gave the green light to an affordable housing project, allowing the plan to move onto the zoning board of appeals for final approval. Developer Amos Eisenberg's mixed-use project is being permitted as a "local initiative project" (LIP) and gives local officials more discretion in the review process. The board gave the proposal an initial nod last year, contingent on a slight reduction in the number of rental units from 41 to 38 and the creation of more commercial space

PEPPERELL --- Concerned that the town is not attracting enough 20- to 40-year olds, the town's Affordable Housing Committee has taken initial steps to craft a new five-year afforable housing plan to replace the last one which expired in 2011.