Housing Headlines

AMHERST --- An affordable housing project that has endured eight years of legal challenges recently received building permits and tentatively announced construction plans to begin next year. The 26-unit Butternut Farm complex will consist of three one-bedroom apartments with monthly rents from $391 to $618, 14 two-bedroom units with rents from $466 to $818, and nine three-bedrooms with rents for about $983. Seventy percent of the units will be reserved for people who live or work in Amherst. The next ZBA hearing will take place on Tuesday, August 25.

BRIDGEWATER --- The town's Four Building Study Implementation Committee recently voted to endorse an affordable senior housing plan on the former site of a historic school building. The plan, submitted by the Stratford Capital Group LLC, calls for 63 units of affordable rental housing including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The complex will also feature a fitness center, a continuing education classroom, a gathering room, a community lounge and a theatre.

NEW BEDFORD --- Co-developers Welcome Home Veterans Housing and Caritas Communities recently came together to celebrate the ground-breaking of an affordable apartment complex for veterans. Named the Sean Brooke House, for a young veteran killed four years ago, the project will provide veterans with a safe, affordable and permanent place to live. Work on the project is expected to begin in two weeks and is expected to be finished in nine months.

FALL RIVER --- In the upcoming months, the city and state Department of Housing and Community Development plan to apply for over $6 million in funding to convert part of the downtown YMCA into 42 single-room affordable rental units. The Mount Hope View Housing project will be created for working adults with annual incomes of $18,000 to $25,000. The YMCA Southcoast CEO told The Herald News that he hopes construction on the project will begin by early 2010.

HOPKINTON --- The town housing authority recently received an $800,000 grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development for the construction of an affordable housing complex. The complex will consist of 12 rental units intended for families with six units reserved for current town residents.

WESTBOROUGH --- A local contractor, with experience building affordable housing, recently presented a proposal to the board of selectmen to build a housing complex at 169 East Main Street. Farooq Ansari plans to build 14 colonial-style homes with four homes set aside as affordable. The proposal needs to be approved by the board of selectmen and the zoning board of appeals before it can move forward.