Housing Headlines

WORCESTER --- A bid to renovate two downtown buildings with tax credits --- which will mean the properties will feature some subsidized affordable housing --- has generated a debate over what the city needs to spark its downtown economy.

CONCORD --- The Board of Appeals recently granted the Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) a special permit to construct eight units of housing at 1245 Elm Street. The Lalli Woods development will consist of four single-family homes and four duplexes with six units designated as affordable for residents earning at or below 150 percent of the area median income. A $500,000 grant from the Steinberg-Lalli Charitable Foundation and $75,000 in CPA funds made funding possible for this development. CHDC plans to start construction in the spring and begin moving families into the units in the fall.

HOLLISTON --- Almost four years after town meeting OK'd the creation of an affordable housing trust, selectmen are in the process of appointing trust board members so that funds can be used to create and preserve affordable housing.

MILTON --- Some want affordable housing. Others say the former "poor farm" should be designated as an historic landmark. Either way, selectmen seem destined to decide by spring what to do with the 34-acre parcel, which was donated to the town in 1701 by Gov. William Stoughton with the stipulation that it be used to benefit the poor.

SUDBURY --- The Sudbury Housing Trust, in a partnership with the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), recently filed a comprehensive permit application with the town in order to construct six affordable homebuyer units. The project will consist of two buildings with three homebuyer units in each building. The purchase prices of the units will range between $160,000 and $205,000.

HOLLISTON --- The Cutler Heights Limited Partnership recently announced that the 30-unit Cutler Heights affordable housing complex will break ground in the coming weeks. The project will consist of 23 two-bedroom units, six three-bedroom units, one single-bedroom unit, and 52 on-site parking spots. All units will be designated affordable for residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) and three units will be reserved for residents earning at or below 30 percent AMI. In June of 2009, MHP committed $1.165 million in first mortgage financing to help this project.