Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- AvalonBay Communities Inc. recently proposed the new construction of a 404-unit apartment tower downtown. The 29-story tower would contain studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments with 15 percent of the units designated as affordable. A community meeting is planned for next month to provide more details about the development to neighbors.

LOWELL --- The Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) non-profit developers recently received a $234,000 federal grant to improve the Carriage Place Apartments on Middlesex Street. The grant will help the developers make green energy, structural, and cosmetic improvements to the four-story, 24 unit affordable rental complex. CBA is one of 115 organizations to receive a total of $34.9 million to rehabilitate or finance the rehabilitation of affordable housing projects nationwide.

GROTON --- The developer of a proposed mixed-use project at the site of the former Groton Trading Post recently submitted an official plan for residents to review. The Boynton Meadows at Gibbet Hill project will create 18 condo/townhouse units and commercial spaces, including a restaurant. The town negotiated a deal to provide the developer with $412,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding as its investment in exchange for the designation of three of the 18 condo/townhouse units as affordable and a return on the town's investment.

CHINATOWN --- Developers plan to break ground next month on a $33 million affordable housing development replacing four parcels on Essex Street. The seven-floor, 100,000 square foot building will contain 74 new apartments for low-income elderly residents.

In his blog, Mike Goodman of UMass Dartmouth summarizes his response to questions by industry leaders about what policy changes would have the greatest impact on growing jobs in Massachusetts.

BOSTON --- The Abbey Group developers recently proposed the new construction of a 16-story building complex to include retail, office, and residential units on Boylston Street near Fenway Park. The 210 residential units would range from studio to three-bedroom units with 21 units designated as affordable for residents earning below a certain income criteria. If approved, construction of the project would begin in late 2012.