Housing Headlines

PEABODY --- Despite resuming business, the Peabody Zoning Board of Appeals did not immediately set a date on a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit land use request to build 133 condominiums on a former hospital property. An attorney for the developer said the ZBA has decided not to begin hearings via Zoom and ZBA Chair Frances-Bisazza-Gallugi voiced concern that at a neighbor might be left out of a Zoom hearing due to the inability to participate remotely.

FRAMINGHAM --- Following up on a vote it took last week, the Framingham City Council made it official on Aug. 4, voting 10-1 to enact a nine-month building moratorium on apartment construction. The issue now goes to Mayor Yvonne Spicer, who could either approve or veto the legislation. The council can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.

TRURO --- In an opinion piece, state Sen. Julian Cyr says the proposed Cloverleaf affordable housing project is an opportunity to provide opportunities for people of color and lambastes those who have tried to stop it. "The arguments for halting the project are troubling," Cyr wrote. "If they had any basis, I’d consider their merits. But they don’t, so I’ll call them what they are: procedural tactics designed to perpetuate racial and class inequities."

BOSTON --- The Pine Street Inn has leased the Best Western Motel at 891 Massachusetts Ave. in the South End and will use it as a homeless shelters. Known as "Roundhouse Suites" because of its round shape, PIne Street moved 180 shelter guests to the hotel from a Suffolk University dorm, which the nonprofit had been using since March to reduce overcrowding at its shelters.

MILTON --- The Town of Milton has established a $100,000 emergency rental assistance fund to assists tenants impacted by COVID-19. The town will operate the program with Metro Housing Boston, the region's largest administrator of housing assistance.

In the wake of the Trump Administration's decision to remove enhanced fair housing regulations enacted in 2015, Rachel Heller of the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association has five suggestions on how local citizens can take steps to undo systemic racism and make their communities more equitable.