Housing Headlines

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.

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.

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.

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.

WILMINGTON --- The newly completed Canal Village complex will hold an affordable housing lottery later this month for four units. The three-bedroom affordable units are priced at $197,000, targeted towards a four-person households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). Residents are set to start moving into the 16-unit complex in February.

LAKEVILLE --- LeBaron Hills Developers recently celebrated the grand opening of a new affordable rental complex for seniors. The Fairways complex contains 56 one-bedroom units. Residency is limited to income-eligible tenants with 42 of the units reserved for residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) and the remaining 14 units reserved for residents earning at or below 30 percent AMI.