Housing Headlines

LAWRENCE --- Union Crossing, the proposed 125-unit housing, commercial and retail project slated for an old mill building, recently received a $1.8 million loan from the Fireman Foundation. Lawrence Community Works project director said the money will cover the phase one pre-development costs for 60 rental apartments, a day-care center, 70,000 square feet of commercial space, a parking garage and green space. At this time, the project has a proposed construction start time of late spring.

CHELMSFORD --- Earlier this week, the Chelmsford Housing Authority proposed the redevelopment of two former town halls into affordable rental units. CHA's proposed plan includes 17 studio apartments inside the Old North Town Hall, and 10 one-bedroom units and four studios inside the Center Town Hall. If the plan is approved, CHA Executive Director David Hedison said that more than $1 million of funding from state historical tax credits can be used to preserve the exterior of the buildings for years to come. The housing authority will appear before selectmen Monday, February 9 to request a Special Town Meeting vote on the issue in March.

BOSTON --- The Home Depot Foundation recently granted $50,000 to Roxbury-based Urban Edge developers to help support the "green" renovation of Jamaica Plain Apartments. The complex consists of 104 affordable multi-family units in Jamaica Plain and Dorchester. The grant money will be used to purchase and install a solar-thermal hot water system, supplying 80 percent of the residents' hot water needs. To date, Urban Edge has developed and preserved over 1,360 units of affordable housing.

BOSTON --- Last month, Columbia Point neighbors gathered to view the progress on the Boston Redevelopment Authority master plan for the area. Developers Corcoran Jennison proposed to build 900 residential apartments along with hundreds of thousands of square feet for office, hotel and retail space in the Bayside on the Point development. The other proposed developer, Synergy, would add as many as 700 apartments and incorporate workplaces and shopping outlets in the development. Comments from several neighborhood meetings will be gathered and will help guide the task force in creating future development guidelines.

NORTHAMPTON --- Earlier this month, Valley CDC purchased a gutted downtown building to be converted into eight one-room apartments for homeless or low-income people with commercial space on the first floor. Valley CDC is currently pursuing financing from the Department of Housing and Community Development as well as city CPA funds and Smith College.

MARBLEHEAD --- At the January 28 selectmen's meeting, members gave initial approval to a plan that would develop two 40R smart-growth zoning sites for affordable housing. The proposed projects would be mixed-income with 20 percent of each development designated for affordable housing. Selectmen are awaiting DHCD authorization before the plan can move forward.