Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The city's planning and development agency recently OK'd three fully-affordable housing proposals, two by the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation and one by Travis Lee of TLee Development. CSNDC's approved projects were 19 units at 151 Spencer St., and is 23 units at 25 New England Ave. while Lee's proposal is for 21 rental units at 270 Talbot Ave., the area where CSNDC has done much of its work.

EASTON --- With an eye toward keeping its affordable housing supply above 10 percent, Selectmen voted 4-1 to allow developer Rick Lincoln to move forward with is bid to seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive land permit so he can build 108 mixed-income apartments. Selectman Rick Lamb was a no vote based on the site's location - "middle of nowhere" - and because he said the town's on pace to add over 1,000 units in 10 years. It's time to "pump the brakes," he said.

AMHERST --- Initiated by desire to have a round-the-clock shelter and a space large enough to social distance, the town's overnight homeless shelter has moved from the First Baptist Church to the Unitarian Universalist Society. Known as Craig's Place, the 24-hour facility will offer services, meals and laundry. The drawback is capacity is 16 guests, down from 28 during previous cold-weather seasons.

WINCHESTER --- After hearing Ian Gillespie's plans for the downtown Fells Hardware Building, the Select Board pushed the developer to use state programs to add a fifth story to the project and more affordable units. Gillespie and his architect, Ted Touloukian proposed to develop 36 units with five affordable units on the property, which is in an area Town Meeting voted to rezone in 2015 in an effort to "“energize the downtown, add residential housing, revitalize businesses, and encourage mixed-use with affordable housing.”

WORCESTER --- With the expiration of the state's eviction moratorium earlier in October, the City of Worcester is moving to establish an emergency rental assistance program. City Manager Edward Augustus said he will recommend that the city use $1.96 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help approximately 550 to 600 residents across the city.

TRURO --- The ongoing debate as to whether the 40-unit Cloverleaf affordable housing proposal will pollute Truro's drinking water just got more confusing as 77 residents submitted a petition with a 40-page report from Docs for Truro Safe Water, a group that includes seven M.D.s and Ph.D.s in various specialties, including an epidemiologist, a biology professor, two engineers, and a doctor of social work. Reporter Paul Benson untangles the science and explains why many experts say it's the town's 210 cesspools that are really the problem.