Housing Headlines

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.

WORCESTER --- Earlier this month Winn Development purchased the former Chevalier Furniture building on Water Street with plans to convert it into loft-style residential units. The private developer plans to convert the four-story brick building in 64 housing units with the help of state and federal tax credit funds. Half of the 64 units will be reserved as low-income rental apartments and the other 32 units will be rented at market rates. After five years, the developer has the option to convert the 32 market-rate units into condominiums, with four reserved as affordable for residents earning at or below 110 percent of the area median income ($66,690 in Worcester).

BOSTON --- In marveling at Roslindale Village's vibrancy today compared to the 1980s, the Boston Globe's Larry Harmon points out that it was a lot of little steps that made the difference, not one grand plan.

RANDOLPH --- Business writer Jon Chesto takes a look at a revived foreclosed property that is one of over 50 foreclosed properties in the state to be stabilized through the state's Abandoned Housing Initiative, which is supported with federal funds and run locally by the Attorney General's Office and MHP.

WESTPORT --- Police recently discovered two trash-strewn settlements off American Legion Highway that are littered with dead and malnourished animals and illegally thrown-together structures built on land police believe is being rented to inhabitants for $60 to $200 a month.