Housing Headlines

EASTON --- The property where developer Nick Mirrione planned to introduce cottage-style starter homes to Massachusetts was sold last week at a foreclosure auction, just a few days before the town was set to rule on the developer's 40B proposal.

SPRINGFIELD ---- An Illinois-based bank is making significant repairs and improvements to an apartment block on Belmont Avenue, which was left without heat in December and abandoned by its prior owner, lawyers said.

QUINCY --- At least one residential home, a failed condo project and a former pizza parlor would make a "dirty dozen" list of blighted properties that the city would like to see repaired by property owners.

WORCESTER --- Following through on earlier discussions as to whether the downtown needs to emphasize more market-rate housing, the city has designated Quincy-based Acorn Management as its preferred developer for the former Lincoln Square Boys Club building. Acorn intends to redevelop the building into 28 market-rate housing units.

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.

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.