Housing Headlines

BRIGHTON --- Hera Development Corporation recently submitted plans to the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) to construct a mixed-use project on a site bordered by Market, Vineland, and North Beacon Street. The proposed development would include 122 apartments, 219 parking spaces, a 4,700 square foot day care center and 20,400 square feet of commercial space.

SPRINGFIELD --- The city recently celebrated work currently happening to physically reconstruct State Street with help from $14 million in federal funds and $3 million in funds from the state. One aspect of this reconstruction is the planned reuse of the former Springfield School Department Building at 195 State Street into market-rate rental units or condominiums.

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.