Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Madison Park Development Corporation recently began the last phase of construction on an existing affordable housing complex in Roxbury. The final phase of the Orchard Gardens project will include 20 energy-efficient homes which will be made available to first-time homebuyers. Construction is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.

PLYMOUTH --- Despite construction delays due to a lack of tax credit investments, the Cherry Hill II affordable senior housing project is set to move forward in the coming months. The complex will include 35 units of affordable rental housing for seniors.

LOWELL --- Trinity Financial developers recently announced that the first phase of the Hamilton Canal District revitalization project will break ground next month. In the next 18 months, the former Appleton mill buildings will be transformed into 130 artist live/work spaces. The entire Hamilton Canal project is expected to create 350,000 square feet of commercial/office space, up to 50,000 square feet of retail space, a mix of up to 700-800 market-rate and affordable-housing units, 400 new permanent jobs and $4 million in annual tax revenue to the city.

HAVERHILL --- The city recently celebrated the redevelopment of a former shoe factory into 305 units of rental housing spread across four buildings. The 40R smart growth complex will designate 61 units as affordable. Visit www.hamelmilllofts.com for more information about this development.

SOUTH BOSTON --- The Old Colony public housing development recently received more than $22 million in redevelopment funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Old Colony site is comprised of more than 16 acres, with 873 apartments in 22 three-story, brick walk-up buildings. The "green" redevelopment funding is set to add 150 new units of housing and a new community center in phase one. Construction is expected to begin in late fall of 2010 with a completion date of summer 2012.

ANDOVER --- Developer Todd Wacome recently applied to build 32 three-bedroom townhouses in the southern section of town, despite the zoning board's initial rejection of the project in January. The Taylor Cove development would cluster 32 townhouses in a mix of two and three-unit buildings, with each unit consisting of three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. Eight townhouse units would be designated as affordable. The next ZBA meeting to discuss the Taylor Cove Development is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.