Housing Headlines

TRURO --- About half of the 50 year-round tenants who remain residents at the Truro Motor Inn remain in limbo as the town is trying to use the courts to compel the owner to address health and safety issues at one of the only affordable year-round places to live in the community.

NORTHAMPTON --- With over 2,700 notices filed since the state lifted its eviction moratorium, several western Mass. officials are behind a bill that would divert cases from the court system and buy time for tenants facing eviction due to the impact of COVID-19. Since Oct. 2020, 2,036 eviction notices have been filed in Hampden County, 354 in Berkshire County, 207 in Hampshire County and 139 in Franklin County. Additionally, 585 properties in western Massachusetts are under the threat of foreclosure,

Besides making certain zoning changes possible by simple majority rather than two-thirds super majority, the state's new Housing Choice legislation also allows developers to ask judges to impose a $50,000 bond on anyone who wants to appeal a housing development approval, including any that fall under the state's 40B statute. One local official said this could have a chilling effect on abutters' appetite to challenge development if the court could assess costs for causing project delays. "I can't imagine the average residential neighbor willing to bet $50,000," said Bob Galvin, Norwell's town counsel.

PROVINCETOWN --- Four abutters have sued to overturn a building permit that was granted to allow the construction of a workforce housing building that would offer 112 bunk beds in 28 dorm-style rooms. The complaint argues the developer - Patrick Patrick (not a typo) - does not have access rights to the site.

NEWTON --- Concerned that its "local preference" policy for affordable housing applicants unduly benefits white people, Newton is considering changing it to provide more housing access for people of color. The current policy sets aside 70 percent of affordable units for people who live, work or have children in the city schools. Changing the standard is not without precedent as Brookline recently lowered its local requirement from 70 to 25 percent.

HAVERHILL --- Mayor James Fiorentini is proposing a bylaw that would require that 10 percent of new housing built in the city be affordable. City officials acknowledged that details need to be worked out, such as what project size would trigger the requirement and whether developers could make payments in lieu of creating affordable units. Fiorentini agreed but said, "we need to keep our city affordable so that the average Haverhill resident can afford to live here."