Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Governor Patrick needs to consider raising taxes, opines economist Ed Moscovitch. In this Herald op-ed piece, he also advises that Patrick lower zoning regulations to stimulate housing and economic growth, and then use the extra revenue to provide local schools with additional aid.

CHICOPEE --- The town will use a state grant to pursue an 'urban village' concept for downtown Chicopee. If approved, the smart growth district will include 20 percent affordable housing.

HARWICH --- Affordable housing efforts will receive the majority of Community Preservation Act funding this year, if voters approve the community preservation committee's funding recommendations.

According to housing poll conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute and Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), there is strong statewide support for the construction of affordable housing, with a majority of residents hoping that Governor Deval Patrick will make affordable housing a high priority in his administration.

MARLBOROUGH --- After a lull in housing construction, the town prepares for a comeback, with plans to begin three efforts that will result in over 400 units.

LOWELL --- Residents of a local rooming house join housing advocates in expressing fears that residential construction efforts being planned in the city will fail to include affordable housing and inevitably lead to gentrification and loss of affordability throughout Lowell.