Housing Headlines

PITTSFIELD --- ServiceNet's eight-year quest expand Pittsfield's shelter capacity has focused on securing a permit to add beds at First United Methodist Church. ServiceNet's efforts to increase shelter capacity is more urgent because existing shelters have had to reduce capacity due to COVID-19 and social distance practices. "I don't have a Plan B," ServiceNet's Jay Sacchetti said in a recent hearing. Not all are behind the solution as 10 businesses wrote a letter to the city saying the proposed shelter would present "yet another obstacle to" redeveloping the downtown.

BOSTON --- The 10,000-unit Suffolk Downs project appears headed for a final vote at the end of the month as developers have upped the number of affordable units at the huge site in East Boston from the required 13 percent to 20 percent, which, if approved, will mean the project will add more than 900 affordable units.

BOSTON --- At a recent community meeting,a Jamaica Plain neighborhood council discussed how to voice its support for a Pine Street Inn project on Washington Street that is subject of a lawsuit and also heard from the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp. about its plans to redevelop a site across the street from the Pine Street project into 39 affordable apartments for seniors.

HAMILTON --- Town officials have OK'd a developer's request to increase the number of affordable units from two to nine in an 18-unit proposal for Willow Street. The developer - Traggorth Companies - made the request so it can pursue funding for the project through the state's Community Scale Housing Initiative.

WEYMOUTH --- As part of its effort reduce crowding and COVID-19 spread at its homeless shelters, Father Bill's & Mainspring is proposing to rent the Boston Motel to create 70 to 80 more beds. Weymouth officials are against the plan due to ongoing issues with the owner about maintaining the site. Father Bill's CEO John Yazwinski said his organization could bring some stability to the site because staff would be on location 24 hours a day but he is open to considering other locations, given the looming homeless crisis.

GREENFIELD --- A single-family residential home that had become a de facto boarding house has been put into receivership. Western Housing Court Judge Robert G. Fields appointed Anthony Witman of Holyoke, as property manager of 237 Conway St. and tasked him with collecting rent and ensuring all necessary repairs are made. The city's efforts to have the property comply with local bylaws reached a critical point in 2019 when it issued a cease-and-desist order to owner Douglas Sky Wight after it was discovered 10 people were living there, two in the attic.