Housing Headlines

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.

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 --- 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.

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.