Housing Headlines

WORCESTER --- The Housing Authority recently celebrated the positive outcomes of a $20 million makeover to the Great Brook Valley complex. Improvements included the addition of shrubbery, two tot lots for small children to play in, and the conversion of eleven existing units into nine handicapped accessible units.

BOSTON --- Writing for the Boston Globe editorial page, Harvard University's Edward Glaeser outlines the similarities between Atlanta and Boston and says that the two cities are in competition for young workers in popular growth industries like life sciences. To attract young workers, Glaeser says the greater Boston area must continue to "provide the education, quality of life, and affordable homes."

FITCHBURG --- Facing a $4.2 million budget gap, Mayor Lisa Wong has proposed closing the city's Community Development Department and distrubuting duties among various departments, but the city council has questions as to how much money the moves will actually save.

FALL RIVER --- Three city businessmen recently purchased the historic Quaker Fabric headquarters to convert into a mixed-use development. The development would consist of 75 luxury rental units on the top three floors of the building along with commercial space for shops and restaurants on the lower two levels. The building needs to be re-zoned from industrial to mixed-use before any construction can begin.

WEST SPRINGFIELD --- The owner of a 156-unit manufactured senior home park is proposing to add nine more units on a new road to be built off John Drive. The three-bedroom homes will sell for around $100,000 to $150,000 and will be reserved for seniors 55 years and older. The new construction must be approved by the city Planning Board before the owner can proceed.

AMHERST --- Town Manager Larry Shaffer recently announced that a plan will be developed to provide a shelter for the town's homeless population during the winter. Town staff in the Conservation and Architectural Development department are launching an architectural feasibility study to find an appropriate site for the shelter.