Housing Headlines

MAYNARD --- The state agency considering whether to grant Avalon Bay a permit to develop 198 apartments in Maynard has received a letter of support for the project from the town's board of selectmen.

WELLESLEY --- The Zoning Board of Appeals recently granted developer Michael J. Connolly preliminary approval for a 5-unit, 40B condominium project at Hillside Road and Washington Street. Last January, the board of selectmen voiced their opposition to the project and indicated they would wait until the zoning board issues its final conditions of approval before deciding whether to exercise any options they might have to stop the project.

NORTH ANDOVER --- At the end of December, Avalon Properties informed the town that they will no longer develop 530 affordable rental units on 32 acres of vacant land located at Osgood Landing. Scott Dale, vice president of development for Avalon Properties, told the Eagle-Tribune that the project was a victim of the housing market collapse and inability to reach an agreement with property owner Orit Goldstein. The breakdown of the development deal is blow to the town because they have already received and committed $600,000 from the state for approving a zoning change on the property to allow a mix of affordable housing and retail uses. The town will have to pay back the money if the land is not developed within the next few years.

SHREWSBURY --- AvalonBay Communities developers recently informed town manager Daniel Morgado that the large Shrewsbury Hills project will be put on hold and re-evaluated after the first of the year. AvalonBay principal Michael Roberts noted that "the adverse credit markets have cause [the] company to rethink the project." Selectmen gave AvalonBay the approval to go ahead with its plans and the state granted site eligibility, but the developers never applied for a comprehensive permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Shrewsbury Hills would be a 444-unit mixed income rental community on 36.4 acres off CenTech Boulevard and Green Street.

BOSTON --- A state web site has been redesigned to make it easier for people with disabilities to find accessible housing. Located at www.massaccesshousingregistry.org, the new site features vacant and wait list information for affordable rental housing in Massachusetts, including housing for those with disabilities. The site also provides the ability for property managers and landlords post available rental units. "This is a win-win for consumers looking for housing that meet their needs and for housing owners and managers who want to rent their units as quickly as possible," said Tina Brooks, the state's undersecretary for housing. The online registry is funded by the state and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. It is managed by the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association.

OAKS BLUFF --- Earlier this month, voters rejected a proposal to rescind $400,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding previously approved by voters for the Bradley Square affordable housing project. The 11-unit project is slated for the corner of Dukes County Avenue and Masonic Avenue. Some community members asserted that the town did not provide selectmen sufficient time to analyze the project or hold enough public hearings. A Department of Housing and Community Development spokesman said the state agency is satisfied the applicants have followed all necessary procedures, allowing the project to move forward.