Housing Headlines

BOURNEDALE --- A developer who planned to build a 24-unit motel has reconsidered and submitted a proposal to create one-bedroom year-round homeownership and rental units, of which six would be affordable. Though the motel project had received initial town approval, a lack of bank financing led the developer to pursue affordable housing instead, and the project now awaits zoning approval to proceed.

BRIDGEWATER --- Town meeting approved a zoning change that will allow the Waterford Village to pursue a 40-acre expansion that could bring 400 to 500 apartments to the town. Voters OK'd the zoning change under the state's Ch. 40R smart growth program.

BELMONT --- Residents at town meeting unanimously voted to adopt a smart growth overlay district. The new zoning regulations will allow developers to build more densely and also preserve a church as affordable housing.

LAWRENCE --- Pending state and federal tax-credit approval, a Boston-based developer plans to restore century-old mill buildings at the Malden Mills property in the city and turn them into a residential community for up to 500 families.

LEVERETT --- In an effort to make housing more affordable, voters unanimously approved the creation an affordable housing trust fund at fall town meeting. Leverett, a small town north of Amherst with a population of nearly 1,800, will build the fund through future town meeting authorizations of funds raised through the town's Community Preservation Act.

LAWRENCE --- Winn Development, a Boston-based firm that was ready to start building new condominiums at Malden Mills, has been forced to walk away because the new owners, Chrysalis Capital Partners, want to redevelop the mill property with their own real estate division.