Housing Headlines

MELROSE --- Construction is set to begin on the redevelopment of the former Boston Rubber Shoe mill site on Washington Street this summer. The Stone Place development will consist of the redevelopment of two existing factory buildings and the new construction of four buildings. When completed, the complex will consist of 300 rental units, 27 of which will be designated as affordable.

CHELMSFORD --- Neighbors are voicing concern over the size of a proposed affordable housing development for veterans of the armed services, even though the housing authority director is insisting that plans have not been finalized and the community will be involved in determining what type of building will go on what was formerly a single-family lot.

HINGHAM --- The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) recently voted to award $250,000 to help a non-profit build six units of affordable housing for homeless veterans. The two-story Fort Hill Veterans Supportive Housing will also receive $50,000 in funding from the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust. The earliest the project would open would be the fall of 2011.

WORCESTER --- Leggat McCall Properties LLC says it will purchase the downtown CitySquare project by June and begin construction on a seven-story office building that is expected to be the new Worcester office for Unum Group, a disability insurer. A 20-acre redevelopment project on the site of the former Worcester Common Outlets mall, CitySquare was purchased in 2004 by Berkeley Investments but the Boston development company never moved forward on its plans to tear down the mall and build housing, offices and stores.

AMHERST - Housing authorities in Amherst and nearby Easthampton are considering banning smoking inside at all their properties. (Note: Access to this article may require a subscription).

EASTON --- Residents recently voted at a special town meeting to support developer Beacon Communities' plan to rehabilitate the historic Ames shovel factory into 119 affordable apartments. The town gave Beacon Communities a $3 million grant to pay for a historic preservation restriction on the shovel complex and a $4.5 million construction loan. All of the money will come from the town's Community Preservation Act (CPA) account.