Housing Headlines

NORTHAMPTON --- The town's planning board is considering changing the town's zoning to incorporate a growth overlay district in response to the town's affordable housing needs. The new district would allow the town to redevelop a former state hospital into 207 units of housing, industrial and commercial space. The state would provide up to $650,000 in additional incentive money under a sustainable growth ordinance.

LYNNFIELD --- By a vote of 1592 to 391 at the April 30 town meeting, Lynnfield residents provided the necessary two-thirds majority needed to rezone the former Colonial Country Club so it can be developed under the state's Chapter 40R bylaw. The vote paves the way for National Development to redevelop 68 of the site's 202 acres into 395,000 square feet of retail, 80,000 square feet of office, 180 rental units and 40 units of housing sponsored by Lynnfield Initiative for the Elderly (LIFE). The remaining 103 acres will be deeded to the town as open space.

TISBURY --- Having received all necessary town approvals, the Bridge Housing Corporation is going forward with their plans to purchase a 14.8 acre site on which they will build 30 affordable units.

MARSHFIELD --- Residents at town meeting voted in favor of an inclusionary zoning bylaw, giving developers who wish to build more than eight units the option of including affordable housing or giving the town cash to fund programs to help lower-income residents purchase homes.

CAPE COD --- While many Cape towns have made progress in their commitment to housing, a Cape Cod Times article suggests that Cape communities need to take bolder steps towards building affordable housing, including perhaps consolidating their housing offices into one large regional housing authority.

FRAMINGHAM --- A MetroWest Daily News editorial credits Framingham, Marlborough and Natick for reaching or nearing the 10 percent mark for affordable housing, not just for how they got there but for providing homes that residents can more easily afford.