Housing Headlines

WATERTOWN --- The former Coolidge School on Arlington Street has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. Developer Mitchell Properties is converting the 94-year-old building into 38 apartments for people over 55 years of age, with 15 of those apartments designated as affordable for low-income individuals.

SWANSEA --- Eight aging housing authority homes, available for sale to non-profit bidders in January, have gone unsold. The Board of Selectmen granted approval to sell the homes because the housing authority determined that they could not afford to rehab the properties. Housing Authority Chairman Wayne Gray said the board may change the bidding process to allow homes to be bid on individually, hopefully sparking more interest from buyers.

NEW BEDFORD --- The New Bedford Housing Authority will receive $4.9 million in federal stimulus money to improve many of its public housing units. The money will pay for increasing handicapped accessibility, weatherization, increasing the energy efficiency of heating systems, as well as repairing parking lots, walkways and roads on its properties.

BOSTON --- Eastern Bank recently honored 49 non-profit organizations with $800,000 in grants for commitment to community leadership at the 5th Annual "Community Quarterback" award ceremony. Of the 49 organizations, six received "surprise" grants allocated for home foreclosure prevention programs. Click on the title of this summary for more information about the award recipients.

BOSTON --- Commonwealth Ventures LLC developers recently adjusted plans to demolish a pair of turn-of-the-century warehouses in Boston's Fort Point Channel neighborhood, deciding instead to convert them into more than 100 moderately-priced apartments and live/work studios. Commonwealth Ventures LLC president Richard Galvin said he is weighing different configurations for the buildings, but he expects to seek city approval for the mix of studios and apartments this summer. The city must approves the changes before construction can begin.

DEDHAM --- An initiative created over increasing foreclosures numbers in the town has led to a unique church/public partnership to offer resources to distressed homeowners. Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a group that emerged to offer free advice from bankers, lawyers, and financial advisers to people dealing with distressed properties or foreclosure. Also on hand at these seminars are social service providers who are able to make connections with fuel assistance and food pantries. One meeting already occurred in November and more are being planned. For more information visit the town's website at http://www.dedham-ma.gov/.