Housing Headlines

NEWBURYPORT - Local and state housing officials gathered with bankers and community leaders yesterday to mark the groundbreaking ceremony for 10 units of affordable housing at the corner of Market and Pleasant streets developed by the YWCA Greater Newburyport.

NORTH ANDOVER --- By a 4-1 vote, selectmen rejected a non-profit's plan to redevelop the former Bradstreet School into affordable housing. The Coalition for a Better Acre - a Lowell-based nonprofit - had been the only organization to respond to the town's request for proposal and its initial plan called for razing the downtown school and replacing it with 24 units and 500 feet of commercial space. In response to earlier comments from town officials, CBA made a second proposal that would've preserved the school's facade but this version did not include commercial space. Selectmen rejected both proposals, stating they wanted to see more commercial space.

AMHERST --- With 19 lower-income families about to lose their apartments due to the sale of Echo Village, an Amherst Bulletin editorial outlines the region's acute need for affordable housing and urges the community to find ways to foster the development of off-campus student housing, including a recent disclosure that a Georgia-based Landmark Properties wants to develop a former 154-acre farm into 170 units for students.

AMHERST --- In an opinion piece submitted to the Amherst Bulletin, a college professor describes how his neighborhood changed from homeownership to student rentals and how this transition eventually led him to sell his home and move to a quieter neighborhood.

PEABODY --- Community Development Director Karen Sawyer's plan to increase the city's affordable housing stock by encouraging "friendly" 40B developments in designated areas like the downtown was greeted cooly some city council members, who instead suggested the city continue to try to get its large supply of mobile homes recognized as affordable.

READING --- Residents of Main St. and the Wood End area showed up in force at a recent selectmen's meeting to voice concerns over a rumored 60-unit 40B by an un-named contractor who reportedly has yet to file an application with the town. Resident concerns about the project included traffic, safety, crowded schools, vernal pools and fears that the project "will bring down the quality of life."