Partnership Aims To Boost Housing Stock EASTHAM — Communities have come to recognize that encouraging homeowners to build accessory apartments is a key strategy for increasing the number of housing units. And while those apartments face unique permitting hurdles, the biggest roadblock is sometimes financial. By partnering with Seamen's Bank, the Lower Cape Community Development Partnership is hoping a new p...

HARWICH — Town Administrator Joseph Powers, acting as chairman of the affordable housing trust, issue d an apology for his actions in the affordable housing trust session on Jan. 17. That session contained very combative dialogue between Powers and member Judith Underwood, and ended abruptly. The lack of progress in creating affordable housing over the trust’s five years, combined with t...

HARWICH – T h e planning board has unanimously approved permits for the historic West Harwich schoolhouse to be converted into seven one-bedroom apartments and for a second structure with three additional one-bedroom apartments to be built on the east side of the property. There is one additional approval necessary before the project can move forward. Project proponent John Carey requested a 60-d...

BREWSTER – More residents are requesting municipal aid to pay rising housing and childcare costs. Housing assistance requests were up during the second quarter of 2022, with 77 requests for assistance in October, Housing Coordinator Jill Scalise said at the affordable housing trust’s December meeting. “There were a lot of questions about the [Oct. 27] housing forum, which is a good thing, and a lot of quest...

CHATHAM — By virtue of their topography, the funds used to buy them and the neighborhoods around them, two land parcels purchased by the town will likely host different mixes of housing. That was one of the themes discussed at last week’s meeting about housing options for land on Meetinghouse Road in South Chatham and at 1533 Main St. in West Chatham. Held by the Barrett Planning Group, the town’s housing cons...

ORLEANS – Cape Cod is in the grips of a critical housing shortage. But according to Alisa Magnotta, chief executive officer of the Housing Assistance Corporation, it’s an issue that’s particularly hurting residents further down Cape. “ It’s even more acute out here in the Outer and Lower Cape because of the price of real estate,” said Magnotta, who lives in Orleans. “There is a legitimate housing shortage...

ORLEANS – The holiday season is a time of joy and excitement. But for staff and volunteers with the Homeless Prevention Council, it's also a time of purpose. As people begin preparing their holiday shopping lists for friends and family members, the council is once again working to make sure that those families in need of help this season aren't left behind. Now in its 27th year, the council's Adopt A Family pr...

CHATHAM – With the finalization of the purchase of 2.5 acres of land in West Chatham, the town now has more than eight acres of land available for construction of affordable and attainable housing. Now begins the hard work of determining how to develop the properties. The town has hired Barrett Consulting to help coordinate the process, and the first of what will likely be several community engagement sessi...

WEST HARWICH – Thursday was a great day for 11 children and 11 adults who now have homes they can call their own. Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod held a dedication and celebration for the new owners of six affordable homes constructed with the support of volunteers, community generosity and sweat equity on Murray Lane in West Harwich. It was a day that saw a crowd of more than 150 people turn out ...

Plan May Be Completed Before Next Summer HARWICH – The affordable housing trust could have a housing action plan in place before next summer, according to a schedule provided to the trust by Jennifer Goldson of JM Goldson LLC, the community preservation and planning consultant hired to help develop the plan. Goldson conducted a Zoom meeting with trust members last week and provided a timeline for...

Imagine this, said Tim Cornwell, keynote speaker at Thursday’s regional housing summit: twice the number of people seated in the Cape Codder’s 400-capacity ballroom no longer could afford to buy a home as first-time homebuyers today because their combined household income is under $200,000. With the median home price doubling in the last two years, the Cape is losing more than 800 households a year making $100...

HARWICH – The affordable housing trust wants to create a dialogue with residents of the community on housing needs, density and style as it begins working with a consultant to develop a housing action plan. The trust held a forum on Oct. 4 which drew about 35 people. One of the main focuses of the session was the development of the former James Marceline property, a 13.34-acre parcel on the east side of Pleasa...

HARWICH – T h e new owner of the former West Harwich schoolhouse was before the affordable housing trust last week with a preliminary plan for housing at the historic structure. Although in the conceptual stage, John Carey said he is planning to establish seven apartments at 5 Bell’s Neck Rd. Carey also said there would be very little alteration to the historic facade of the schoolhouse, con...

HARWICH – Voters will be asked in the Oct. 18 s pecial town meeting to authorize selectmen to acquire t he West Harwich Baptist Church property. T own officials say the 1.56 acre parcel could be used for sewering needs, workforce housing and cemetery purposes. Selectmen have agreed to place the article in the special town meeting warrant, but they took no action last week on a recommendation ...

ORLEANS – The former Governor Prence Inn will stand on Route 6A for at least a few more months while town officials work to get an estimate for the cost of demolition. During a joint meeting on Aug. 26, the select board and the affordable housing trust fund board both opted against putting an article before voters at next month's special town meeting seeking authorization to raze the property. Officials hope t...

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...