Housing Headlines

DANVERS --- State and local officials gathered last month to celebrate the transformation of the former Danvers State Hospital into 433 rental apartments. Developed by Avalon Bay at a cost of $80 million, the project is 90 percent occupied, the story said.

PROVINCETOWN --- Once again, Cape Cod affordable housing leader Bob Murray will be walking to raise funds for homelessness. The director of the Falmouth Housing Authority will start his annual 107-mile walk from Provincetown to Falmouth on July 14. Last year, Murray raised $232,000. This year, he hopes to raise $250,000.

ROCHESTER --- The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals has ruled against the 144-unit Cedar Crossing project proposed by Charles Tringale after the developer refused to pay for independent consultants to review the plans. Mr. Tringale now has the option to appeal the town's decision to the state.

BOSTON --- Red Sox great Mo Vaughn, co-owner of Omni New York, LLC, has announced plans to purchase two local affordable housing projects, Forestvale Apartments in Jamaica Plain and Florence Apartments in Roslindale. Under the company's plan, both properties will continue as affordable housing for at least 40 years.

PROVINCETOWN --- Officials are weighing two proposals from developers to build 45-50 affordable units on 2.5 acres of town-owned land at Shank Painter Road. Currently the largest affordable housing project in town consists of 24 units, though the need for affordable rental units is 200 to 250, according to a 2006 affordable housing study.

ROCHESTER --- A meeting between the zoning board and a local developer reached an impasse when the parties disagreed over developer-paid consultants for the town. The developer, Charles Tringale, has an agreement to purchase land and plans to build a 144-unit townhouse project off Featherbed Lane.