Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The state government plans to eliminate a controversial emergency shelter program that places about 1,700 homeless families in motels and hotels paid by taxpayers, but housing advocates are worried officials will not be able to come up with better alternatives. The program cost taxpayers $80 per night per family, or about $45 million in fiscal year 2012.

WESTON - The Affordable Housing Trust is hard at work on a proposed affordable housing project on Warren Avenue, just northwest of Weston's commercial center. The parcel of town-owned property includes a single-family dwelling, a two-family dwelling and the former Water Division building, which recently became vacant when the water department moved to the new DPW building. The town has appropriated $100,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to study whether it would be feasible to convert the municipal building into at least four units of affordable housing.

FITCHBURG -- Lengthy waiting lists, an unacceptable vacancy rate and a lack of management oversight are all reasons why the state will be doing an an extensive review of the Fitchburg Housing Authority (FHA). FHA officials say a lack of resources from the state to fix units is the big reason why 18 percent of their units are unoccupied but a state Department of Housing Community Development spokesman said the vast majority of vacant units require little more than routine maintenance to be ready for tenants.

DORCHESTER --- A recent holiday party gave Hendry Street residents an opportunity to talk about how their neighborhood has improved. Comments from residents were made in the wake of a Boston Globe 5-part series that indicated that recent rivitalization efforts by the city and the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corp. had failed to rid the streets of crime and property distress.

NORTON --- Despite the presence of 100 residents from nearby Red Mill Village, the town's Zoning Board of Appeals gave Thorndike Development Corporation the go ahead to continue the Ch. 40B application process for a 230-unit apartment complex that would be built next to Red Mill, a 155-unit town home village for active adults over age 55. Before the ZBA approval, abutters heard details about the new project from Thorndike president Lloyd Geisinger, whose company also developed the 53-acre Red Mill Village.

SWANSEA --- A Newton-based real estate developer will seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit from the town so he can build 136 one- and two-bedroom rental apartments. Ken Chase of of Caldar LLC explained to selectmen recently that he would like to build on a 25-acre parcel on the north side of Route 6. The Holiday Inn is east of the complex, and Arrow Gas, 1499 G.A.R. Highway, is a direct abutter.