CHATHAM — For nearly four decades, the houses in the Chatham Housing Opportunity Program, or CHOP, have been home to a rare breed of residents: working class families with children. But with affordability protections due to expire in 2028, officials are worried about the loss of badly needed workforce housing units – and the young families that need them. CHOP was Chatham’s first affordable housing neighborhoo...

BREWSTER — The Brewster Chamber of Commerce partnered with town officials Thursday, Aug. 4, to offer tours at the grand opening of Serenity Apartments, a 130-unit, independent living community for residents 55 and up. Located at 873 Harwich Rd., the facility formerly housed Epoch, Wingate and Brewster Manor assisted living. The fully renovated building is adjacent to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. “You really c...

ORLEANS — As the cost of goods and services continues to rise, it can be tough these days for families to cover all of their needs. With the start of a new school year just a few weeks away, that also includes paying for back-to-school supplies. The Homeless Prevention Council helped provide approximately 250 new backpacks full of supplies for students and families on the Lower and Outer Cape in 2021, and Hadl...

BREWSTER – The Brewster Chamber of Commerce is holding an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony today (Aug. 4) for the grand opening of the final 91 units at the Serenity Apartments at Brewster, a newly revitalized 55-plus independent senior community at 873 Harwich Rd. Adjacent to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, the two-story, 132-unit complex features 400- to 500-square-foot studio or one-bedroom apartments with a f...

BREWSTER – Hiring a program administrator was the first goal of the Brewster Housing Production Plan approved by the Select Board June 30, 2017. Three weeks later, the town completed that goal by hiring Jill Scalise as housing coordinator. A self-proclaimed “data person,” Scalise is Cape Cod’s lead contact for administering Regional Community Development Block Grant funding for housing rehabilitation and child...

HARWICH – The affordable housing trust is looking at the use of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) in a public/private partnership as a way to develop affordable housing. In the trust’s June 27 meeting, resident David Bernie and Scot Butcher of Chatham, a tax incentive finance/tax credit service provider, laid out a route to expanding affordable housing stock without development costs to the town. The 1...

HARWICH PORT — The vacant lot with the white picket fence across Route 28 from Cumberland Farms in Harwich Port may soon contain a mixed use development with a couple of restaurants, retail space and five residential units on the second floor. Main Street HP LLC will be going before the planning board on July 12 seeking a site plan review special permit and use special permit with waivers for the development. ...

WEST CHATHAM — For many people, finding an affordable place to live and raise their children on Cape Cod can seem like an impossible dream. But for the two families who will be purchasing new Habitat for Humanity homes in West Chatham, those dreams are becoming reality. Those prospective homeowners, screened by Habitat and chosen by lottery, helped raise the first walls of their new houses in an emotional cere...

HARWICH - There will be a few changes along Main Street in Harwich Center, as the owner of the Main Street Marketplace and Royal Smoke Shop is looking to add two apartments to each of the buildings. Saumil Patel, who previously built a convenience store and two apartments at the former gas station site at 711 Main St., was before the historic district and historical commission on June 22 seeking certificates o...

WEST HARWICH — When six families move into their sparkling new homes on Murray Lane in the fall, they’ll be surrounded by the handiwork of Habitat for Humanity volunteers – including a host of students from Cape Tech. Habitat provided a pizza lunch Friday for a group of plumbing and electrical students who’ve been working on the new affordable homes. Working on the five houses gave students an excellent opport...

Still Seen As Most Critical Use Of 5.5-acre Site ORLEANS – The need for housing continues to drive planning for the former Governor Prence Inn property on Route 6A. The Governor Prence Planning Committee has been exploring potential options for the 5.5-acre site since the fall. While multiple uses have been discussed including a community center and performing arts space, feedback from the community th...

Other Measures To Help Combat Rising Cost Of Living Approved CHATHAM – Neither supporters of preserving town-owned land off Middle Road as open space nor those who wanted to use a portion of the property for affordable housing got what they wanted at Saturday's annual town meeting. Despite an emphasis during the meeting on helping local families meet the high cost of living in town, a proposal to use four o...

But Wants Guarantee If Parcel Is Turned Over To Town CHATHAM – Repeatedly, top candidates offered jobs in the Monomoy Regional School District decline because they can't afford to live in the area. “The housing situation has changed in the last two years, creating a situation that really threatens the quality of the school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Scott Carpenter. “That puts us in a bind an...

EASTHAM — If you have some extra room in your home and would like to rent it out, doing your bit to ease the Lower Cape’s housing crunch, all you need is to learn to become a real estate developer, architect, lawyer and banker. Not exactly a piece of cake. Using a $1 million federal grant lobbied for by State Rep. Sarah Peake, a new Lower Cape Housing Resource Center is now in operation with the goal of helpin...

ORLEANS – Sitting at her desk Friday on her first official day as the Lower Cape Outreach Council's new CEO, Katie Wibby is well aware that there is much to be done. First hired in January as the council's chief operating officer, Wibby now sits at the helm of an organization that for years has helped provide emergency financial relief and other resources to families in need on the Lower and Outer Cape. "We...

Historic Building Would Become Apartments HARWICH – Despite two town meeting petition articles related to the West Harwich Schoolhouse, selectmen voted Monday night to enter in a purchase and sales agreement for the historic structure. The town received three requests for proposals to purchase the town-owned building on March 25. Selectmen voted 4-1 to enter into the agreement with the high bidder, John Car...