Affordable Housing

(Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com) The C-Mart supermarket sits on property designated for affordable housing nearly three decades ago. By Jeremy C. Fox, Town Correspondent City and state officials have joined Chinatown leaders who are closely watching a neighborhood organization, but all parties are declining to say what action they may take. The office of Attorney General Martha Coakley has sent a letter to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England — under scrutiny by Chinatown community leaders in recent months due to a controversial...

JOPLIN, Mo. On the first anniversary of the devastating tornado that touched ground here, the nation focused on this small city of 50,000 and its stories of resiliency and resourcefulness. Joplin is a folk tale of middle American community values and strong religious sentiment. It's "Little House on the Prairie," in the eyes of cable news. But there is something condescending about that portrayal, as if Joplin's comeback were an inevitable consequence of good people just being good.

The Board of Selectmen has scheduled an informational meeting about affordable housing in town for Feb. 28. Of particular concern are residents' reactions to and questions about a proposed 96-unit development on West Street. "Given that high level of concern, it is important for people to learn just what can and cannot be done once a 40B is proposed," said Selectman Osler Peterson, referring to the chapter of state law that guides affordable housing of the kind in question. "In general, unfortunately, a town's options are truly limited.

Town Moderator Patricia Fraizer swears in all members prior to the annual Danvers Town Meeting at Holten Richmond Middle School on Monday night. Photo by Ryan Mooney By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent Following a long opening ceremony - including a group rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" by an assembly of middle school students - affordable housing became one of the top themes of the night among the 138 members present for the annual Danvers Town Meeting at Holten Richmond Middle School.

State officials have awarded financing for six projects to expand and preserve 142 affordable housing units in the region north of Boston. Projects in Beverly, Danvers, Lawrence, Lowell, Newburyport, and Somerville will receive a combined $11.55 million in housing program subsidies and an additional $1.37 million in tax credits. The local projects were among 38 housing developments in 28 cities and towns awarded a combined $105 million in program subsidies and tax credits by Governor Deval Patrick.

When most people hear the name Google, they think Internet searches, not affordable housing. But in Allston, the search-engine giant is investing $28 million to help construct 240 units at the Charlesview residences, one of the largest low-income housing developments in the country. On its face, the investment seems strange because it puts Google Inc., typically focused on the virtual world, in a corner of the affordable housing business dominated by big banks and investment companies.

ATLANTA -- Hurricane evacuees from Louisiana told federal and state officials at forums across the South yesterday that affordable housing, better schools, and stronger levees are what they want most when their state is rebuilt. Some evacuees at the "Louisiana Speaks" forums also expressed concern that officials have no real plans to restore certain areas, such as New Orleans's impoverished Lower Ninth Ward. "This [forum] is a good idea," said Tereece Johnson, 40, at an event held in Atlanta.

Town officials will hold a lottery to determine buyers for five units of affordable housing at noon Saturday at the Meadowbrook Heights condominium community on Grey Wolf Drive. To be eligible for the lottery, at least one household member must be 55 or older, and household income limits apply. The two-bedroom town houses in the lottery will be sold for $165,000. The application period ended Friday; for more information on the town's affordable housing programs, call Maxine Kinhart at 508-520-4949 or e-mail mkinhart@franklin.ma.us.

There are several affordable housing options now available in Groton. Information packets, which include details about the application process and eligibility requirements, are available for units at Fawn Terrace, Townsend Road, Academy Hill, and Squannacook Hill. For information, visit the town's website, www.townofgroton.org. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

Eight affordable-housing units in a 32-unit duplex development on Dudley Road will be made available for purchase next month through a lottery. The two-bedroom, two-bath units will be sold to income-eligible households for $162,000. Applications for the lottery are due by June 4, with the drawing slated for June 14. For more information, visit www.townofberlin.com.

State officials have awarded financing for six projects to expand and preserve 142 affordable housing units in the region north of Boston. Projects in Beverly, Danvers, Lawrence, Lowell, Newburyport, and Somerville will receive a combined $11.55 million in housing program subsidies and an additional $1.37 million in tax credits. The local projects were among 38 housing developments in 28 cities and towns awarded a combined $105 million in program subsidies and tax credits by Governor Deval Patrick.

(Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com) The C-Mart supermarket sits on property designated for affordable housing nearly three decades ago. By Jeremy C. Fox, Town Correspondent City and state officials have joined Chinatown leaders who are closely watching a neighborhood organization, but all parties are declining to say what action they may take. The office of Attorney General Martha Coakley has sent a letter to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England — under scrutiny by Chinatown community leaders in recent months due to a controversial...

The state has announced $105 million in affordable housing resources and tax credits being distributed to support construction of 36 housing developments in 28 communities in Massachusetts. Among the recipients was Station Lofts  in Brockton. Capstone Communities will use $1.5 million in state Department of Housing and Community Development housing subsidies and $495,348 in federal and state low-income housing tax credits to create 25 units   of affordable and market-rate housing in Brockton.

By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent The city said it has approved a proposal for a 39 affordable senior rental units in a four-story building in Mission Hill. The plans for 28-30 Gurney St. call for constructing an about 35,000 square foot building with 35 units reserved for tenants at or below 50 percent of the area median income and four units for those at or below 30 percent of area median income, city officials announced in a statement Wednesday. Led by the Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services and the Massachusetts College...

The Mattapan Community Development Corp., founded in 1996 to create more affordable housing for low- and middle-income residents, is all but defunct as it confronts financial struggles and a leadership vacuum, according to local officials. Unpaid taxes on some of its properties are piling up, city records show. It has failed to file a tax form, required of all nonprofits, with the state attorney general's office. Its website has not been updated in nearly a year. The organization's office at 221 River St. still bears a sign declaring the space...

A proposed change in state law would ease restrictions on how cities and towns spend their recreation dollars, a welcome development for some communities south of Boston struggling to find the money to renovate old playgrounds, parks, and athletic fields. Currently, cities and towns can use money raised through the Community Preservation Act for recreation upgrades only on properties originally acquired or built with community preservation funds. But an amendment to the budget making its way through the State House includes a provision that would remove the restriction, allowing cities and towns to spend...

The neighbors knew her as Penny Collins, who lived in a quiet house up a long driveway at the end of Crooked Meadow Lane. But after intensive investigations by the Hingham Police Department, she has been accused of being an illegal landlord and a fraud, and possibly even a criminal, whose several aliases and rope of alleged fabrications have started to unravel. And her real name, police say, is Wanpen Florentine. "She'd drive by and wave and sometimes she'd stop and chat," said Ellen Roe, who lives on Crooked Meadow Lane.