Housing Headlines

MARTHA'S VINEYARD --- One of the island's town accountants says that local Community Preservation Act funds put into an affordable housing fund to help lower-income homebuyers may have instead have been used for other purposes, such as organizational costs.

NORTH ANDOVER - Following a request for proposal that attracted only one developer, selectmen say they are remaining open-minded about Coalition for a Better Acre's plan to redevelop the former Bradstreet School site. The Lowell-based nonprofit has proposed to tear down the building and replace it with a two-story building that will feature first-floor commercial space and 24 affordable rental apartments on the second floor.

LITTLETON --- Abutters to a proposal that would add 190 apartments and a 19-lot subdivision to their neighborhood are upset at selectmen for not letting them repeat their concens at a recent public meeting, even as the developer - Omni Properties - added to its original offer of paying the town $1.2 million for sewer easements.

NEWBURYPORT --- A regional survey of the homeless population in Newburyport, Amesbury, Salisbury, Newbury and Rowley estimates that there are 76 individuals - five of them children - that are considered homeless.

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.