Housing Headlines

PAXTON --- The Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA) was recently approved as the developer of a proposed senior housing project in town. The project will be built on 10 acres of town-owned land and calls for the creation of 50 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments. POUA must have their proposal approved by town meeting sometime early next year before they can move forward with plans.

BILLERICA --- The Planning Office for Urban Affairs recently celebrated the groundbreaking of an affordable housing complex for seniors built on a 3.2 acre parcel formerly owned by the Saint Theresa Lisieux Parish. The new development will be made up of 41 apartments and will also include a community room and kitchen facilities. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2011.

LITTLETON --- Michael Kimball, the owner of a local ice-cream stand, recently filed a petition to transfer a comprehensive permit for an affordable housing project into his name. The permit was originally granted to a 108-unit development know as Village on the Commons but construction was never completed. Kimball has already purchased the land but must reapply for any building permits that he will need to finish the complex.

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority recently approved the $3 billion Seaport Square master plan located in the South Boston Waterfront neighborhood. The 23-acre mixed-use neighborhood will contain 6.3 million square feet of residential, retail, office, hotel, innovation, civic and cultural uses within 22 new buildings. The project's residential component will include the creation of 2,500 for sale and rental homes, including 325 affordable units as well as the 325 innovative workforce housing units.

HOLYOKE --- The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission recently presented data showing that the foreclosure rate for the Churchill Homes affordable housing project is significantly lower than overall rates for surrounding counties and the nation. The 202-unit development, geared towards low-income, first-time homebuyers with the addition of some rental units, has had just one foreclosure since the units were filled in 2004. Officials attribute the low foreclosure rate to smart lending, careful screening, and counseling support for prospective homebuyers. For more information about the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission's data, visit www.pvpc.org

WORCESTER --- The redevelopment at the former Worcester Vocational School site is set to begin in the coming weeks. The first phase of the redevelopment will involve removing asbestos, razing the building, and removing soil that was contaminated from leaking underground fuel oil tanks. The second phase of development will consist of Winn Development renovating a remaining brick building on the site into 67 rental units.