Housing Headlines

EASTHAMPTON --- A nonprofit housing organization claims its request for a special permit to build 37 affordable rental units has been "contructively granted" after the the Easthampton Planning Board took more than the required 90 days to issue its denial following the conclusion of public hearings.

CAMBRIDGE --- Concerned residents at Craigie Arms have reason to be hopeful after local non-profit Homeowners Rehab, Inc., confirmed it has reached an initial agreement to purchase the 50-unit affordable housing building and maintain its affordability.

ARLINGTON --- The Housing Corporation of Arlington is set to begin the renovation of three apartment buildings on Massachusetts Avenue. After renovation, the buildings will consist of six studio apartments, 17 one-bedroom apartments, and nine two-bedroom apartments for a total of 32 affordable rental units. The $9 million project is being funded through a mix of private and public funding with about 10 percent of funding coming from federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

LEOMINSTER --- The executive director of the Leominster Housing Authority says that the market for rental housing is beginning to tighten up again.

DORCHESTER --- In the wake of a shooting that led police investigators to a rundown propetry with prior complaints, the City of Boston intends to begin directing owners of properties that have been responsible for eight or more police calls in the past year to take steps toward solving the problems by warning or evicting the troublemakers.

WALPOLE --- Two months after town meeting rejected a proposal to buy the Walpole Woodworkers commercial propety so as to have control over its development, a Texas-based company has an agreement to buy the 16-acre property and plans to use a comprehensive permit (40B) to build 250 apartments.