Housing Headlines

NATICK --- A network of church congregations, businesses, foundations and volunteers is reporting an increase families seeking support to avoid homelessness. Since the pandemic, Natick-based Family Promise Metrowest (FPM) reports that it has already 54 adults and 80 children, the highest annual total in its 10-year history. FPM Executive Director Sue Crossley said assistance calls have jumped from 2-4 to 11-13 per week since the state's eviction moratorium ended in October.

ORLEANS --- Responding in part to a town plan that said repurposing a former bank building into affordable housing was feasible, Pennsylvania-based developer Pennrose has signed a purchase and sale agreement to buy the former Cape Cod Five operations center and redevelop it into 62 mixed-income apartments. Pennrose is no stranger to the Cape or Massachusetts, having previously developed similar projects in Eastham and Auburn.

At fall Special Town Meeting, voters overwhelmingly approved the establishment of a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust and defeated a measure that would have prevented the trust from using funds for affordable housing built with a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit. Three other amendments to the article were also voted on. Click and scroll for the details.

TRURO --- The town's effort to turn a former state highway property into 39 affordable rental homes took another step forward as a key regional authority OK'd the project's wastewater design, which has been challenged by some residents who are concerned about water quality. In its opinion, the Cape Cod Commission wrote that the proposed wastewater system "sufficiently addresses" impacts on water. The town's Zoning Board of Appeals sought the commission's opinion as it deliberates whether to approve the project.

LAKEVILLE --- Citing changes in the real estate market due in part to the pandemic, local developer Rober Poillucci has asked selectmen to allow him to switch from building condominiums to rental units in the smart growth district next to the town's MBTA commuter rail station. The 110-project - OK'd in 2018 - was scheduled to be built in three phases and Poillucci is asking that he be allowed to build 31 rental units in one of the phases.

MEDFORD --- Medford is rekindling its interest in forming a local affordable housing trust as one of the state's leading trust experts spoke to the city council recently about the benefits of forming a trust. The Massachusetts Housing Partnership's Shelly Goehring spoke to the council about how to set up and run an effective affordable housing trust, an idea that was first brought up in January by John Falco, president of the city council.