Housing Headlines

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.

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.

WINTHROP --- Non-profit EBCDC Inc. developers, affiliated with the for-profit East Boston Community Development Corporation, recently purchased the former A.W. Dalrymple School building with plans to convert it into 27 units of affordable rental housing for seniors. Developers hope that construction will begin in the spring of 2010 with a completion date of 2011.

BELMONT --- Developer Ron Lopez of North Shore Construction and Development recently filed plans with the town to build 17 town-house style units on the site of a former church. The next planning board hearing to discuss this proposal will take place on July 29.

SPRINGFIELD --- Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services recently announced the availability of three rehabilitated houses in the Upper Hill neighborhood for low-income, first-time homebuyers. Interested homebuyers must register for the housing lottery by July 17 in order to be eligible to purchase the $75,000 to $140,000 homes. Visit http://205100mr.myerswebsites.com/ for more information about this lottery.

MALDEN --- The city's redevelopment authority recently celebrated the opening of nine live/work studios for artists at the former site of the Sacred Hearts Parish on Irving Street. All nine studios are designated as affordable for residents earning up to 80 percent of the area median income, with sale prices ranging from $120,000 to $125,000. The site will also include a gallery space, a roof deck, an outside terrace and storage rooms.