Housing Headlines

WORCESTER - A federal report on the city's housing programs says city officials failed to adequately oversee how millions of dollars in grant funds have been used by the city's community development corporations and that CDCs improperly spent federal money.

BOSTON --- Tenants have organized to try to keep Rutland Housing affordable. The federal contract requirng that the South End housing project be affordable has expired and the owners are keeping their options open. Rutland is is one of more than 900 such privately owned, low-income developments across Massachusetts, incorporated in the '70s and '80s as a short-term, cost-effective solution for public housing. Today, they are ticking time bombs in gentrifying neighborhoods like the South End, as the low-income contracts run out one by one.

EASTON --- Even though the town can deny Ch. 40B comprehensive permit applications for two years after approving Ames Shovel Works, selectman gave preliminary support to developer Amos Eisnerberg's plan to build 38 rental units. Eisnerberg is seeking to do a "friendly" 40B and must gain approval from the zoning board of appeals.

HINGHAM --- The Zoning Board of Appeals has indicated that it will continue to fight the state over whether 10 percent of the town's housing stock is affordable while it simultaneously considers a Ch. 40B proposal by Avalon Bay to develop 177 rental units. The town maintains that all 986 units at the Linden Ponds development are affordable whereas the state says only 25 percent are affordable. The difference is crucial because if the town's position is upheld on appeal, it could deny Avalon Bay its request for a comprehensive permit.

MARLBOROUGH - The City Council on Monday night approved sending a comment to the Zoning Board of Appeals opposing a 40B development proposal the board is considering. The Gutierrez Company is seeking waivers from the ZBA to build a 243-unit affordable housing project on Ames Street, off Rte. 20 on the west side of the city.

PROVINCETOWN --- Tenants have begun to move into the new Province Landing apartment community on Shank Painter Road. Developed by The Community Builders, Province Landing features 50 units of affordable rental housing.