Housing Headlines

YARMOUTH --- Members of the town's Community Preservation Committee had lots of questions for a developer who proposes to buy two financially troubled Rt. 28 motels and develop them into affordable housing. Developer Brian Braginton-Smith has asked the town for $640,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to support his plan. The motels reportedly had been renting rooms on a long-term basis, which is against town bylaws.

AYER --- Renovations totaling $1.8 million are set to begin on the historic Fletcher Building on Main Street. The top three floors of the building will be converted into six apartments, with two single-bedroom apartments on each floor. Four of the six apartments will be designated as affordable, with rents fixed at $650 per month. The project received a $325,000 loan from North Middlesex Savings Bank, a $200,000 loan from the Ayer Industrial Development Finance Agency, $750,000 in state grants, and $250,000 from the town's Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.

BOSTON --- Aaron Gornstein, executive director of the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association since 1990 has been appointed undersecretary of the state Department of Housing and Community Development. The pick was announced on Thurs., Dec. 22 by Greg Bialecki, Gov. Deval Patrick's secretary of housing and economic development.

WESTPORT - On Dec. 1, The Community Builders, Inc. made a public presentation on their offer to purchase 31 acres of town-owned land and construct 50 rental apartments on 7.5 acres. The Boston-based nonprofit, one of the nation's top affordable housing developers, have offered to work with Westport's Housing Partnership Committee (HPC) and Affordable Housing Trust, who have been working for years to develop part of the property and preserve the rest as open space.

BOSTON --- On the web site MHP created to address the issue of how the state can allow the housing it needs to grow and sustain its economy, we take a quick look at MassInc's recent report on how regional funding strategies cold help the MBTA address its deficits while having funds left over to improve regional transit systems.

HINGHAM --- While waiting for $750,000 in state funding, the developers of six affordable homes for military veterans are proceeding with construction and hope to be done by next Memorial Day, thanks to an interim loan from Rockland Trust. The developers - Father Bill's and Main Spring Inc. - have also received crucial support from the town when it voted last spring to appropriate $250,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to the project.