Housing Headlines

SANDWICH --- After eight years of public meetings and appeals, Housing Assistance Corp. has reached a settlement with abutters that will allow HAC to move forward with plans to construct 65 two- and three-bedroom apartments, including 10 that will be set aside for formerly homeless people. Dana Fields, as the effort is called, will include a community garden and a renewable energy center that will be open to all Sandwich residents.

MILFORD --- Despite protest from some landlords, residents at a special town meeting voted not to repeal the town's apartment inspection bylaw, which works to combat the overcrowding of rental units. In the same meeting, the town passed an article to exempt owner-occupied units from undergoing similar unit inspections.

MANCHESTER --- A large indoor horse riding arena on Summer Street may be replaced by affordable housing if the landowners receive approval by the town's zoning board. A developer is proposing building a 40-unit 40B effort that will include 10 affordable units on the land, which is a 3.2 acre lot currently occupied by a single-family home and a horse riding arena.

CLINTON --- Increase homeownership, slow overall housing growth and develop downtown mill space are some of the bullet points in the housing section of the town's proposed master plan, set to be finalized in 2008. At a recent meeting, planning consultant Judi Barrett asked the town to elaborate on its housing goals.

SPRINGFIELD --- For the second time in five months, the manager of the 211-unit Longhill Gardens Condominiums was found in contempt of court and was ordered jailed for failing to provide funds to shut down the troubled complex. Western District Housing Court Judge William H. Abrashkin ruled that Segelman is in contempt for failing to deposit $1.3 million with a court-appointed receiver (Valley Real Estate) for repairs, expenses and tenant relocation costs. Segelman was jailed for four days in May until he posted $150,000 for property repairs and expenses.

WESTFORD --- While residents are concerned over how six proposed Ch. 40B affordable housing developments might impact the town, a town highway department worker who bought an affordable condominium says people have the wrong image of what affordable housing is, especially considering that the average selling price of a home is over $470,000.