Housing Headlines

PLYMOUTH --- The town's planning board has OK'd Kingston developer Rick Vayo's plan to turn the Plymouth Armory into some commercial space and 18 rental apartments, as well as the developer's decision to contribute $100,000 to the town's housing trust rather than make two of the units affordable. To go forward, the developer must also get the OK from the zoning board of appeals.

CANTON --- While concerned with how AvalonBay's 196-unit 40B proposal and two other 40Bs could impact municipal services, Canton officials are weighing carefully these proposals given that any one of them could boost the town's supply of affordable housng way above its current 10.0 percent, giving it greater ability to control 40B proposals down the road.

WORCESTER --- The city will issue an RFP next month on a four-story, 13-unit May St. building that it foreclosed on in 2011 after learning that developers impropertly used some of the $2.3 million in federal funds while failing to redevelop the building into affordable housing.

LYNN - Banks would not be able to file foreclosures with the Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds until they sat down with homeowners to discuss alternatives under a plan local City Councilors say will help keep residents in their homes.

BRIDGEWATER --- In response to Gov. Deval Patrick's request that towns in the southestern part of the state designate growth areas in advance on a proposed rail expansion, the Town of Bridgewater has designed the downtown area for growth as well as the former Claremont Property near Rt. 104.

NORTON --- Selectmen have unanimously voted to allow a new town meeting warrant article that would allow the town to seek special Norton-only legislation that would allow Norton to count over 400 units that it has permitted to be built through the state's affordable housing law known as 40B. The 400 units would put the town over the 10 percent threshold but they cannot be counted yet because builders have not yet applied for building permits. The law would ask the legislature to let the town count the permits even though the building permits have not been secured.