Housing Headlines

MANCHESTER --- The Zoning Board of Appeals is weighing a 40B proposal to turn a large indoor horse riding arena into a 40-unit condominium project, with 10 of the units slated to be affordable. Called Coolidge Commons, developers plan one 24-unit three-story building and four four-unit townhouses. Town selectmen have expressed concerns about the potential run-off from the Summer St. site and additional bacterial contamination of the nearby water.

HALIFAX --- Developers of the proposed Blackledge Farm project officially filed a 40B application with the Zoning Board of Appeals this week, two years after the project was first introduced to the town. The project would consist of 104 units, 26 of which would be marked affordable, in 52 duplexes. This is the first privately developed 40B project to advance to the town's ZBA, and they are seeking a state grant to hire a consultant for assistance in advancing the project. The board will open a hearing to all interested residents on November 10 at 8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at Town Hall.

HINGHAM --- Earlier this month, Trammell Crow Residential developers outlined a seven-building 40B apartment complex proposal to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The $50 million development on Recreation Park Drive would consist of 248 rental units with 25 percent being affordable from $1,126 a month for a one-bedroom to $1,351 for a two-bedroom. Residents and town employees would receive first priority in renting the affordable units. Neighbors say they object to the proposal because of its size and "intrusiveness in a single-family-home neighborhood."

HINGHAM --- Voters authorized a $7 million municipal bond issue to buy the Lincoln Apartments in a special town meeting this week. The federal and state funded complex consists of 60 units of affordable housing for seniors and disabled residents. Town ownership ensures that the apartments will remain affordable in the future.

LAWRENCE ---The Washington Mills lofts developers were recognized recently by The National Trust for Historic Preservation for bringing "new life" to a depressed community. The president of the National Trust noted, "This project has demonstrated in remarkable fashion how historic preservation can be a real catalyst for downtown revitalization." Ten percent of the apartments have been set aside as "affordable" with reduced rents based on income levels. MHP helped to finance the project with a $13.25 million dollar loan approved in January of 2007.

WALTHAM --- The Warren Group reported last week that the number of foreclosures in Newton and Waltham has declined 10 percent since 2007, compared to a 72 percent foreclosure increase in the rest of the state. The two cities have seen the number of home auctions increase at a higher rate than the rest of Massachusetts, which local real-estate players say is due to impatience among sellers. Walter McGuire, executive director of the Waltham Housing Authority, anticipates that things might get worse. "We don't really have people coming in to our office as homeless from foreclosures. If those people are out there, they haven't identified themselves," he said. "But we're still waiting for that shoe to drop."