Housing Headlines

BOSTON -- The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced $46 million in funding to support the development ofaffordable apartments across Massachusetts. All told, these funds will fund 12 developments in eight communities, creating 572 new apartments.

BOSTON --- In an op-ed column for the Boston Globe, Father Bill's Mainspring CEO/president John Yazwinski makes a strong case for turning hotels into homeless housing, as his organization is doing in Quincy and Brockton, and as California, Washington are doing more regularly. "This is a relatively quick solution, and one that could be put to scale across Massachusetts," he argues.

Since moving to the Cape, Debby Wells has had to move three times because her apartment was sold. Now facing a fourth sale and another move, Wells represents what's happening in the red-hot Cape Cod real estate market, where the median home sale price has jumped 17 percent in a year and where the number of reasonably-priced year-round rentals are dwindling.

GLLOUCESTER --- A public meeting was held last week to discuss amendments to help the city provide affordable housing. Among the changes the city is considering are lowering the threshold for triggering its inclusionary zoning ordinance from eight to six-unit projects, having different percentage requirements based on project size and adding a payment-in-lieu option for small projects.

SALEM --- For the third straight year, Mayor Kim Driscoll is filing a proposal to broaden rules regarding accessory apartments, hoping it will pass now that Gov. Baker's Housing Choice law allows measures like this to be adopted by simple majority rather than 2/3rds super majority. Driscoll's plan to expand the city's law beyond its current limitation to relatives and caregivers was defeated twice despite getting 7 yes votes and 4 no votes, one yes vote short of what was needed.

SWAMPSCOTT --- The Select Board has sent a letter to the state Department of Housing and Community Development objecting to WinnDevelopment's plan to apply to the town for a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit so it can develop a commercial site into 128 mixed-income apartments near commuter rail. Reflecting feedback from residents - 650 who signed a petition - the letter cited concerns about traffic, building size, location near a rail trail, and the developer’s communication prior to a public meeting it held to gather feedback from residents.