Housing Headlines

LINCOLN --- At one of the longest and most controversial town meetings in recent history, voters on March 23 narrowly approved the Housing Choice Act zoning amendments by a margin of 52% to 48%. The amendment “is not a major change” for the Lincoln Woods and Lincoln Road subdistricts and it “addresses people’s greatest concerns” about commercial space at the mall, said Jonathan Soo, a leader of a citizens’ group that pushed for passage.

BOSTON --- As some communities push back on the MBTA Communities law, advocates say it's a critical step toward increasing development. Luc Schuster, executive director of the Boston Indicators Research Center at the Boston Foundation, argues everyone is making a bigger deal out of the law than is warranted. "The way the law is written, it only applies to a very small percentage of land area in any given city or town."

STATE --- A justice of the Supreme Judicial Court recommended that the full court hear Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s case against the town of Milton for failing to comply with a state rezoning law, but the justice did not go along with the accelerated timetable she sought. The attorney general’s office issued a statement welcoming the decision to have the full court review the matter, but ignoring the delay.

HARWICH --- The affordable housing trust has voted in favor of a conceptual plan that could allow around 49 units of affordable rental housing to be built on the southern part of the former Marceline property off Queen Anne Road near Route 124. The town can now request proposals from potential developers. The trust received technical assistance from MHP's Community Assistance team to develop conceptual plans for building housing on the land.

MEDFORD --- Medford is looking to become the latest Massachusetts municipality to send a home rule petition to the State House to enact a tax on “high-end real estate deals.” The city needs to build 671 more affordable housing units to meet a state requirement that at least 10% of its housing stock be affordable, said Matt Leming, a councilor behind the push.

BOSTON --- The grand opening this month of 140 Clarendon Street marks a new chapter for affordable housing in the Back Bay. The project – a partnership between Beacon Communities and the Mount Vernon Company – will create 210 affordable apartments, which include 111 supportive housing apartments designated for people exiting homelessness provided by The Pine Street Inn.