Housing Headlines

MILFORD --- Despite a push by the town to make sure no one is living in storage units, an organizer for Milford's emergency shelter program says the ban could really hurt people who have no other place to stay during the winter months. The town's Board of Health ordered the storage unit owner to stop allowing people to live at the 15 Beach St. facility after a man was found stabbed to death there in August. "I think it's going to hurt people," said Lisa Trusas, who estimates that there are 20 to 30 people in town who are on the street every night.

WINCHESTER --- After residents voted yes and then no to a plan to build 60 affordable apartments on town land near the downtown train station, Winchester officials are once again negotiating with Civico Development in hopes of bringing another proposal to voters at fall Town Meeting.

TRURO --- About half of the 50 year-round tenants who remain residents at the Truro Motor Inn remain in limbo as the town is trying to use the courts to compel the owner to address health and safety issues at one of the only affordable year-round places to live in the community.

NORTHAMPTON --- With over 2,700 notices filed since the state lifted its eviction moratorium, several western Mass. officials are behind a bill that would divert cases from the court system and buy time for tenants facing eviction due to the impact of COVID-19. Since Oct. 2020, 2,036 eviction notices have been filed in Hampden County, 354 in Berkshire County, 207 in Hampshire County and 139 in Franklin County. Additionally, 585 properties in western Massachusetts are under the threat of foreclosure,

Besides making certain zoning changes possible by simple majority rather than two-thirds super majority, the state's new Housing Choice legislation also allows developers to ask judges to impose a $50,000 bond on anyone who wants to appeal a housing development approval, including any that fall under the state's 40B statute. One local official said this could have a chilling effect on abutters' appetite to challenge development if the court could assess costs for causing project delays. "I can't imagine the average residential neighbor willing to bet $50,000," said Bob Galvin, Norwell's town counsel.

PROVINCETOWN --- Four abutters have sued to overturn a building permit that was granted to allow the construction of a workforce housing building that would offer 112 bunk beds in 28 dorm-style rooms. The complaint argues the developer - Patrick Patrick (not a typo) - does not have access rights to the site.