Housing Headlines

NORTHAMPTON --- The state agency responsible for overseeing the redevelopment of the former Northampton State hospital has received initial approval to add 100 more units. The local Citizens' Advisory Council recently OK'd the request by MassDevelopment, boosting the project's total to 307. A MassDevelopment official explained that the project was shifting away from its original plan, which included 20 large estate lots, and is now proposing to build smaller, less expensive homes in greater numbers. The new request still has to be approved by the city's planning board.

MARBLEHEAD --- The Fair Housing Committee introduced a proposal to the board of selectmen to construct an 18-unit 40B homeownership complex on town-owned land. Nine units would be designated as affordable, available by lottery for families earning below 80 percent of the area median income. The project would be funded largely on the sale of the nine market-rate units in the complex. The board elected to hold off on endorsement of the project until all members of the board were present, but encouraged developers to conduct more research about potential impacts on neighboring land.

PEABODY --- Habitat for Humanity of the North Shore intends to purchase and rehabilitate three properties on Park Street to create eight affordable housing units. The eight new homes would be sold to local families who earn less than 40 percent of the area median income, which is $34,000 for a family of four. Habitat has received $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds from the city and plans to finance the rest with a combination of public and private funds. Once Habitat purchases 5 and 12 Park Street they will have 120 days to secure their financing or the deal will expire.

CAMBRIDGE --- The state Department of Housing and Community Development plans to award two Cambridge agencies more than $3.5 million between them to develop affordable housing in the city. Just-A-Start Corporation will receive $700,000 to develop 10 units for residents with incomes at or below 80 percent of area median income. Cascap, Inc. will receive $2.98 million to develop 24 units of affordable housing for people with incomes at or below 80 of area median income. Census data from 2000 showed that nearly 20 percent of the city's population was categorized as very low-income, while nearly 50 percent of the population fit within the very low to moderate-income category.

WALTHAM --- The Waltham Alliance to Create Housing (WATCH) recently requested $1.2 million from the city's Community Preservation Act fund to acquire the site of a former restaurant on Main Street and convert it into affordable housing. WATCH, working in partnership with New Atlantic Development, plans to build a three-story wood-frame building with 24 rental units. All apartments would be affordable to families earning less than 60 percent of the area median income, currently $51,480 for a family of four in Waltham. The developers hope to receive assistance in the form of low-income housing tax credits and neighborhood stabilization funds from the state. The CPA committee has tabled the loan request until they receive more information about how the development would impact traffic and area schools. For more information about this or any other WATCH project, visit their website at www.watchcdc.org

FALMOUTH --- Atria developers presented a 125-unit elderly 40B rental development proposal earlier this month to complement their existing 99-unit Woodbriar development at the same location. Last year, town officials indefinitely postponed Atria's plans to expand their development, citing that their services were only affordable for the town's wealthiest residents. The new development will reserve 20 units for affordable housing in response to the town's input. The proposal will be reviewed by the state to determine financial feasibility as well as how it relates to the needs of the community before any further steps are taken.