Housing Headlines

WESTFORD --- A decision by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday not to purchase a 13-acre parcel of land caused housing advocates to question the board's role in creating affordable housing.

MILFORD --- In the aftermath of a house fire in Framingham, leaders in Milford are working to increase and enforce regulations against illegal rooming houses and overcrowded apartments.

MARLBOROUGH --- A developer who has submitted plans for a 95-unit development has offered to pay the town cash rather than include affordable units in his plans. Town leaders indicate that they would use the cash to create affordable units elsewhere in town.

EASTON --- The town has taken steps to begin what would be its first 40R smart growth venture. At a selectmen's meeting, the land owner proposed an effort that would include 220 apartments and 60 condos as well as retail space.

CHELMSFORD --- The housing authority's executive director argues that it makes sense to support higher density 40B efforts because they will save more of the town's open space while also keeping units more affordable.

SE Mass --- In the first in a series of meetings between SouthCoast towns and The Standard-Times editorial board, Marion and Dartmouth housing advocates sat down to explain what they are doing and some of the barriers they face in combating the shortage of affordable homes.