Housing Headlines

In an editorial, the Boston Globe applauds the City of Boston for passing rules that will require developers of large properties to analyze the impact of their developments on fair housing and address any impacts, much as they do for traffic and the environment. In the same editorial, the Globe chided suburban communities to follow suit and urged the state legislature to OK the city's Home Rule petition to raise more money for housing, request that was filed more than a year ago.

Boston Magazine's Catherine Elton takes a detailed look at Boston's long history of racial segregation and why many believe it's only when we understand how much intention went into it will we understand how much effort will be needed to fix it. Elton writes, "Even if we were to wave a magic wand and dispense with the stubborn remnants of a discriminatory housing market and our conscious and unconscious biases, these vast economic inequities, largely created by past policies, would keep segregation running on autopilot in perpetuity."

MILFORD --- Already approved to build 242 apartments in a largely undeveloped business park, Gutierrez Company surprised the Zoning Board of Appeals recently by asking for 396 apartments for phase 2, 100 more than had been previously indicated. Guttierrez representative Israel Lopez said it would help the town keep its percentage of affordable housing over 10 percent but ZBA members seemed unmoved. “I feel a little bit blindsided,” Robert Capuzziello said. “I’m not in favor of doing this tonight.”

WINCHESTER --- In moves reported as efforts to maintain control over downtown development, Winchester Town Meeting voted in November to authorize the town to purchase three downtown parcels and also voted to permit the leasing of another property near the train station to CIVICO Development, which has been picked by the select board to create a 60-unit mixed-income rental development.

BOSTON --- Concerned about the number of requests to turn basements into apartments, Boston's Zoning Board denied requests to do so in East Boston and Charlestown. "We're seeing so many of these basements in Eastie that just don't make sense," board Chairwoman Christine Araujo said.

WESTBOROUGH --- Led by a nucleus of committed residents and a web site designed to help the community understand the issue, Westborough Town Meeting voted on Nov. 7 to adopt a housing trust and to support it with $642,000 in town funds. The vote capped a year-long effort by an affordable housing working group that worked with the community to set priorities. The Massachusetts Housing Partnership provided staff support and funding for the web site to help the working group keep the community abreast of its activities.