Housing Headlines

FALL RIVER --- Back in November, Mayor Will Flanagan reversed an earlier decision to pull city funding from the downtown YMCA's housing project, saying he'd support the measure now that the new housing will show preference to single veterans and veterans with families.

SOUTH BOSTON --- Developer Colm Dunphy recently presented his plan to convert the South Boston Tribune Building into rental apartments and retail space to neighborhood residents. The complex will consist of eight one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments with three of the apartments designated as affordable. The complex would also include two retail spaces on the first floor of the building.

AMHERST --- HAP and Valley Community Development Corporation will present plans for a 42-unit affordable housing complex at the Jones Library later this week. The units on Olympia Drive are intended to be affordable for residents who earn at or below 60 percent of the area median income, making rent for a one-bedroom unit around $750 per month with heat included. If the project is approved by the state, construction could begin by the spring of 2012 with units ready to be occupied by 2013.

DENNIS --- The Housing Assistance Corporation of Hyannis was recently awarded the contract to develop a 27-unit, 52-bedroom affordable housing complex on the former site of the Melpet Farm on Route 134. The complex will include eight New England-style buildings containing one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The apartments will be available to residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income with a one-bedroom apartment renting for $650 per month and a two-bedroom apartment renting for $850 per month.

LEOMINSTER --- Twin Cities Community Development Corporation recently announced that construction is set to begin as soon as early spring on the conversion of a former paper-box factory into 40 units of affordable housing. The project is being paid for through a combination of federal funds, historic tax credits from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and local grants.

EAST BOSTON --- A Chelsea-based real estate developer recently announced plans to convert a former Catholic high school into 25 to 30 condominium units. The complex will consist of studios and one- and two-bedroom units with up to five units designated as affordable. If the project is approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the city's Inspectional Services Department, the developer predicts that the building could be ready for occupancy in the spring of 2012.