Housing Headlines

METHUEN --- A local builder whose plans to buy, fix and market a foreclosed home have been delayed when he discovered after buying the property at auction that the owner was still living in the house.

LOWELL --- The first phase of the $800 million Hamilton Canal revitalization, the construction of 130 one- and two-bedroom affordable artist live-work spaces at the former Appleston Mill, is on schedule to be ready for occupancy next April.

SALEM --- Talks are under way for the Salem Harbor Community Development Corp. and the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition to merge, with details expected to be ironed out by the end of the month. The groups are two of the more active non-profit affordable housing organizations in the region, with Salem Harbor having 164 units in its portfolio while Beverly has 95.

EASTHAMPTON --- With 60 rental units already in place at the Treehouse adpotive and foster community, Beacon Communities is about to begin the 33-unit homeownership phase and is seeking $27,000 in local Community Preservation Act funds that will be used to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to households looking to buy one of the nine affordable units. (subscription required to read full story).

WESTFIELD --- The former YMCA and an adjacent property are being transformed into 19 affordable apartments, with work underway and marketing set to begin in the fall of 2010, with residents moving in by the start of the new year.

FALL RIVER --- The City Council is considering a resolution calling for city officials to explain the mayor's decision to pull back $1.5 million to support the redevelopment of the downtown YMCA's top two floors into 42 single-room affordable apartments.