Housing Headlines

WESTFORD --- The ZBA recently approved a comprehensive permit for the Graniteville Wood affordable housing project, ending three years of debate between residents and town officials. The project will consist of 208 units, with 41 designated as affordable, on 104 acres of land. Developer Chuck Emanouil told The Westford Eagle that construction should begin sometime later this year.

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority recently approved a 15-unit condominium project located midway between Andrews Square and Perkins Square. All units will be either one- or two-bedroom residences, and two of the units will be designated as affordable.

BOSTON --- The BRA recently approved a request by the owners of the Archstone Boston Common apartment building to change the designation of 16 affordable apartments from 120 to 100 percent of the area median income (AMI), which is $85,800 for a household of four. According to BRA spokesperson Jessica Shumaker, the owners requested the change after unsuccessfully trying to fill all of the units at the 120 AMI price point. In total, 46 units in the Archstone complex are designated as affordable.

PITTSFIELD --- The $12 million project to convert the former Clark Biscuit Co. building into affordable rental units is on budget and on schedule for completion in July. The buildings will consist of 10 one-bedroom apartments and 33 two-bedroom apartments, housing more than 100 people. In order to ensure that the project is environmentally friendly, all appliances, furnaces and windows are energy efficient.

BILLERICA --- Increased traffic was one of the concerns voiced by residents at a recent ZBA meeting regarding Better Homes' proposed 672-unit Aspen Apartments complex. If built, the 14 building 40B project will increase Billerica's affordable housing stock from its current 6.1 percent to 10 percent. The next ZBA meeting to discuss this project is scheduled for March 18 at 8 p.m. The board has 180 days from the first public hearing on Dec. 3 to make their decision on the comprehensive permit for the project.

PITTSFIELD --- The Community Development Board recently approved plans for 11 new housing units at the former Union Federal Savings Bank on North Street. Two of the 11 housing units will be designated as affordable. When finished, the building will include one or two business spaces on the ground floor, four two-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors, and a pair of one-or two-bedroom units on the fourth floor.