Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- National Development recently presented a revised plan to turn the former Boston Herald building into a mixed-use project bringing apartments, a supermarket, restaurants, and a mini-park to the neighborhood. Under the current proposal National Development would construct four buildings, containing 471 apartment units, with below-grade parking for residents. If the city approves of the proposal, demolition could begin by the end of the year with construction starting in January 2013.

REHOBOTH - Town Administrator Jeff Ritter announced at the Board of Selectmen meeting recently that the town is looking into turning the old Anawan School into approximately 35 to 50 units of affordable housing for seniors and veterans. Rehoboth is a town with a population of just under 12,000 located just southwest of Taunton.

AYER -- State Rep. Sheila Harrington, R-Groton, then state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, were asked by Ayer selectmen to state whether they support rezoning the vacant Vicksburg Square on Devens to permit a 246 unit apartment complex. Harrington glowingly endorsed the proposal. Eldridge reserved comment.

MEDFIELD --- The Gatehouse Group has agreed to purchase nine acres of land at the intersection of Rt. 27 and West Street and will apply to the town for a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit. The Mansfield based-company, which has built apartment buildings in Walpole, Stoughton and Franklin, hopes to build 96 units of affordable rental housing.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- The town's affordable housing committee has asked the town to allocate over $600,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to support the future acquisition of land for affordable housing development.

NEWTON --- After years of debate, a $300 million-plus transformation of Newton's Riverside Station is poised for a city review. The latest proposal calls for a 575,000 square foot development (down from 700,000), 290 apartments (up from 245) and one office building instead of two. While the new plan addresses neighborhood concerns, some feel the project is too small and will yield far less in new tax revenue than first anticipated.