Housing Headlines

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.

LOWELL --- Despite city council's demand that work inspections be done with state and federal officials present, the housing authority has begun tearing down walls and inspecting electrical, gas and plumbing work that was finished and sealed up without final approval of city building inspectors. In addition, the housing authority board voted unanimously at a recent meeting that a Lowell Sun reporter covering the issue cannot step on HA property without permission.

HARVARD --- The story of the impending foreclosure of two town affordable housing properties took an interesting twist recently as the development company proposing to build housing at Devens took a look at the two properties. Trinity Financial President Jim Keefe said he agreed to see the Harvard Inn and Great Elms properties to better understand the situation. Trinity is in the midst of trying to convince three towns - Harvard, Shirley and Ayer - to OK its plans to build 246 units of housing at the former military base.

SUDBURY - Fire officials and Zoning Board of Appeals members at a Ch. 40B permit hearing have voiced concern about the safety of a planned Landham Road 120-unit, 35 acre apartment complex, criticizing the lack of a secondary access road. But Westborough developer Robert Moss said town's proposed requirements were above and beyond what similar developments have been built to in recent years.