Housing Headlines

TRURO --- The town's Zoning Board of Appeals set the stage for largest-ever housing development ever to be built in the town when it OK'd a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit for a 39-unit affordable housing project for a former 3.9 acre state highway property just off the Route 6 Highland Road exit. The decision capped more than a year's worth of consideration and nearly two dozen meetings, many of which centered on resident concerns about the project's impact on groundwater.

HUDSON --- To advance the housing trust's efforts to position the former police station for affordable housing development, selectmen have OK'd a contract with a firm to do an environmental assessment. Funding for will come via a grant from MassHousing, which will pay up to $63,000 for preliminary work on the site, which will include a survey, an environmental study, demolition plan documents and any associated costs.

BOSTON --- The $627 million economic development bill signed by Charlie Baker on Jan. 14 contained significant measures to increase housing production, including his Housing Choice legislation which lowers the voting threshold for communities to pass certain zoning changes from two-thirds and simple majority. Also included in the legislation is a mandate that MBTA communities establish at least one district that allows denser housing near transit stations.

BOSTON --- The state Legislature recently OK'd a bill that gives Boston more flexibility to increase affordable housing, giving it more power to determine how much it asks residential developers to set aside for affordable housing and how often it can change rules to require commercial developers to contribute so-called linkage funds to support fund initiatives like affordable housing and job training.

ORLEANS --- Concerned about rising home prices and the ability of year-round residents to afford housing, the Town of Orleans is spending $29,000 to assess the feasibility of purchasing the shuttered Governor Prence Inn so it can be conveyed to a developer who would build affordable housing. The 6A motel has been in operation since 1959 but did not open last year due to the pandemic, at which point the owners approached the town about a possible purchase.

MALDEN --- By executive order, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson has enacted a measure that will block most evictions and make $250,000 available to help residents pay their landlords and remain in their homes. The order applies to evictions due to nonpayment of rent and to no-cause evictions while the rental assistance will be provided through Housing Families Inc., a local nonprofit.