Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) recently approved a residential building on a parcel owned by Brigham & Women's Hospital and a new residential complex in Allston. The residential complex on the Brigham & Women's parcel will consist of 136 units, 66 of which will be affordable rental units and 70 of which will be condominiums. The three-story Allston development will contain 20 condominium units, two of which will be designated as affordable.

HOLLISTON --- The town's attempt to turn the vacant Andrews School into affordable housing may have hit another snag after it was discovered that part of the school was built on property given to the town under the stipulation that it be used for a school. The town is hoping to clear the title by going through Land Court and getting special legislation.

LEOMINSTER --- Tracing his opinion back to a fire that destroyed eight public housing units two years ago, the executive director for the Leominster and Lunenburg housing authorities, wants to eliminate smoking in public housing. The state Department of Housing and Community Development has sent the director, Gene Capoccia an e-mail recently giving him permission to submit a proposal. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino made statewide news recently when he proposed banning smoking from public housing.

HARWICH --- Selectmen voted last week to allocate $50,000 for rental assistance and another $50,000 for foreclosure prevention. The rental assistance program, adminstered by the Harwich Housing Authority, will help up to 18 Harwich households by paying landlords a monthly subsidy to keep rents affordable. The homeownership program would provide famiiles a one-time maximum grant of $2,500 to help them avoid foreclosure.

SPRINGFIELD --- A big part of the foreclosure story is how abandoned and foreclosed properties can impact neighborhoods, and another example of this took place in Springfield this week as a fire swept through an abandoned house for the second time in a week, causing the evacuation of nearby homes. Scroll down this page for similar stories in Quincy and Weymouth.

WEYMOUTH --- After two vacant buildings burned down days apart, officials in Weymouth are monitoring other possible targets. Mayor Sue Kay has asked that vacant buildings be mapped and monitored after fires claimed the former Grange Hall and a 19th century Victorian home.