Housing Headlines

WEST TISBURY --- The town has filed a complaint against a Texas-based mortgage company to safeguard the affordability covenant of a home, after its former owner foreclosed on a sub-prime adjustable mortgage. By the time of foreclosure, the home's mortgage balance was more than two and a half times the original mortgage and more than twice the maximum resale price allowed in the property deed's affordable housing covenant.

LAKEVILLE --- The town is weighing a request by developer Ed Fish to waive the affordable housing requirement during Phase 1 of the 386-unit LeBaron Hills Country Club senior housing development. Citing a downturn in the real estate market, the developer has asked to build only market-rate units during the initial 62-unit phase.

WAYLAND --- After years of planning, the former Nike missile site in North Wayland will be turned into 16 new townhouses for first-time homebuyers in a project that will use $1.77 million in state funds. Eleven units will be priced for households at 80 percent of median and five for households at 100 percent of median.

NORWELL --- The state's highest court upheld Norwell's decision to reject a developer's request to tear down a modest-sized home to build one three times its size in its place. The decision could give Massachusetts communities more power to limit the construction of large and costly homes.

EASTHAMPTON --- The City Council voted to appropriate $150,000 in community preservation money to the Easthampton Housing Partnership. The partnership has drafted three proposals for the funds - offering interest free loans for renters to pay first and last month's rent and a security deposit; providing rent subsidies for a predetermined amount of time; and providing down payment and closing cost assistance to homebuyers.

CHELMSFORD --- The Housing Authority has trimmed back its proposed affordable-housing development for seniors after meeting with residents. Housing Authority Executive Director David Hedison has told selectmen that the board has agreed to reduce the number of units from 50 to 37, trim its height from four stories to three and construct a flat roof that will reduce the building's size and accommodate solar panels. Hedison said he expects to secure more than $8 million in state and federal funds to underwrite construction of the project.