Housing Headlines

AYER --- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held at 49 Main Street to celebrate the renovation of a former clothing store into retail space and affordable apartments. Built in 1872, the former Fletcher's Clothing Store was converted to include 2,400 square feet of retail space on the first floor with six one-bedroom affordable rental apartments above. The project received $250,000 in town Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds as well as $750,000 from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). For more information about the retail space or apartments, contact Joan Hauf at (978) 302-6549.

MARLBOROUGH --- The Gutierrez Company recently presented a plan for a 243-unit housing complex to the ZBA. The Brookview Village development would contain a mix of bedroom types in four buildings with 61 units rented at affordable rates to qualified tenants. The development company plans to meet with local officials before moving forward with their plan.

DRACUT --- Developers recently celebrated the completion of a $6 million project on Nashua Road. Called Allard's Grove, the 56-unit complex is reserved for tenants 62 years or older with 25 percent of the units reserved for residents earning less than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI).

NEEDHAM --- Town officials recently entered into discussions with an affordable housing developer to bring a new complex to Greendale Avenue. Located on a 1.53 acre parcel of land, the newly proposed Greendale Village development would consist of 10 condominium units with two units reserved for households earning up to 50 percent of the area's median income (AMI). The developer plans to meet with neighboring households soon to go over his plan with them.

HINGHAM --- The zoning board of appeals recently rejected Avalon Bay's request to build 177 rental apartments with a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit, setting up a showdown between the town and the state over whether Hingham has enough subsidized affordable units to turn down the project. The town maintains that units in the senior assisted living complex known as Linden Ponds has put the town over the 10 percent affordable housing threshold necessary to deny 40B projects. The state has questioned whether these units are affordable given the financial arrangements Linden Ponds has with its residents.

HINGHAM --- Boston Globe contributor and Commonwealth Magazine associate editor Paul McMorrow uses Hingham's recent denial of Avalon Bay's 177-unit proposal to argue that while the housing law known as Chapter 40B produces housing, it alienates communities and increases resistance to housing and long-term growth.