Housing Headlines

LOWELL --- The state Department of Housing and Community Development has approved the City of Lowell's plan to utilize a new tax-incentive program to boost creation of market-rate housing downtown. The approval - made under the state's new Housing Development Incentive Program --- means developers of eligible projects in the city center can apply for state tax credits and city tax breaks for building market-rate units. Lowell is the second city after Pittsfield to have a zone and plan approved by the state.

NORTHAMPTON --- Soldier On is moving ahead with a project to develop permanent housing for homeless veterans at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System property. The nonprofit, known for providing shelter and support to homeless veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs are partnering to build 44 units in a four-building cluster that will serve as long-term housing for male veterans and a 16-unit transitional center for women veterans and their children.

YARMOUTH - A motel that was closed by court order because it was illegally housing long-term renters has been reopened by the new owners. The former West Yarmouth Lodging on Route 28, which was purchased by Village Center Group at auction last February, has reopened as the Sepnessett Village Motel. Village Center Group project manager Brian Braginton-Smith said the owners need cash flow while they seek funding for their plan to build 20 new apartments in five buildings on the site, plus a mixed-use building to be called Hyannis Park Village.

LEE --- Renovations to a Main St. building are proceeding as planned and the Berkshire Housing Development Corp. says the 16 rental units and three retail spaces should be ready for occupancy by spring, 2013. When complete, 15 of the 16 units will be affordable. The six one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units will rent for $650 to $950 a month. One unit is handicapped accessible. BHDC bough the building in 2008 from the Consolata family, which expressed in interest in seeing the building turned into affordable housing.

NATICK - The Housing Authority is seeking state funding to renovate numerous empty apartments. Acting Executive Director Eileen Merritt has told the authority's board she applied for more than $200,000 from the state Affordable Housing Trust Fund to renovate 30 units, most of which are at the Cedar Gardens complex.

BOURNE --- The Stratford Group of Peabody recently submitted plans to rehabilitate the former Coady School building into 58 units of senior housing. Developers plan to build an addition on to the existing building and to designate at least 25 percent of the units as affordable for residents meeting certain income criteria. The ZBA will review the proposal at a meeting on December 5 in Town Hall.