Housing Headlines

NEWBURYPORT - With the city poised to decide what to do with its remaining downtown waterfront lots and with retail developer Steven Karp owning much of the land, the Newburyport News has launched a series looking back on how the city nixed an urban renewal plan heavy on demolition and instead embarked on a preservation effort that keyed Newburyport's restoration. The series aims to start a dialogue about the city's future by first looking at how it made past development decisions.

WALTHAM --- The housing authority answered questions about its plans for appropriating 60 percent of this year's funds towards administrative costs rather than tenants' needs.

BOSTON --- Subprime loans accounted for 76 percent of foreclosures last year, and according to UMass professor Jim Campen, 20,000 subprime loans made between 2005-2006 will end in foreclosure.

LEXINGTON --- The chairman of the Lexington Housing Partnership weighs in on the town's need to pass an inclusionary zoning bylaw to create more affordable housing.

BOSTON --- A group of housing advocates will release a report later this month calling for 20,000 moderately priced starter homes to be built over the next five years. To help spur construction, the group is considering a variety of incentives to be offered to towns from the state.

SOMERVILLE --- The board of aldermen will consider amendments to the Union Square zoning plan to increase the required percentage of affordable housing, while reducing the amount set aside for artists' residences.