Housing Headlines

According to realtors and renters, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to put pressure on the Cape Cod rental market as urban workers from off Cape are seeking places where they can work remotely and second-home owners are using their homes rather than rent to Cape residents for the winter. This double whammy is driving up prices and putting more pressure on a market that was already short of year-round rental units.

HUDSON --- On a November Saturday in the high school parking lot, town meeting voters - some in winter hats - voted to transfer ownership of the former police station to the affordable housing trust so it can explore interest by developers to turn it into affordable housing that would keep Hudson's supply of affordable housing above 10 percent.

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.