Housing Headlines

Blacks and Latino homebuyers are migrating away from Boston, according to mortgage origination data analyzed by MassINC. From 2007 TO 2017, the percentage of the state's Black homebuyers who bought in Boston dropped from 27 to 11 percent while the share of Blacks buying homes in gateway cities jumped from 38 to 53 percent. Meanwhile, Latino home buyers purchasing in Boston fell by 5 percentage points and grew by 12 points to 60 percent in Gateway Cities.

In its latest tracking of Massachusetts unemployment filings, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council reports that over 108,000 of the 454,000 people will need help paying rent or mortgage payments once extra public assistance related to COVID-19 runs out. MAPC projects that these households will need about $117 million per month in housing assistance. Of that, renters will need $57.2 million per month to make ends meet. The average monthly assistance needed is $940 per rental household and $1,250 per owner household.

BOSTON --- Amid pleas from residents for more affordable housing, the Boston Planning and Development Agency has given a crucial OK to the Suffolk Downs development that will bring10,000 new homes to Boston and Revere. Developer HYM agreed to build the city-mandated 13 percent of affordable units (930 units) and contribute $5 million to fund affordable housing elsewhere in East Boston, but critics argue those units will be priced out of reach for families in East Boston, where median household income is $53,000.

BOSTON --- While large, visible projects go through review, members of neighborhood organizations say smaller developers are now routinely obtaining variances that put new larger buildings on small residential lots, despite the fact that those plans are often at odds with resident visions for the neighborhoods.

LYNN --- A zoning proposal that would have changed more than 100 parcels from their current zoning to be included in the Central Business District (CBD) has been shelved after a city lawyer advised that proper notice had not been given for public hearings. The change to CBD would allow for mixed-use development, apartments and various types of business on these properties.

WORCESTER --- Enthusiasm remains high but a combination of challenges ranging from redeveloping an historic downtown courthouse to COVID-19 has delayed the opening of the 118-unit Courthouse Lofts from this summer until fall or early winter, according to Michael Lozano, vice president of Trinity Financial.