Landlord Relief
In a proposal filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, landlords may soon be able to request assistance from the state if tenants fall behind on rental payments.The assistance would come in the form...
View ArticleSTART Launches
Salem has launched START, the Salem Together Assistance and Recovery Toolkit. The toolkit has resources for both residents and small businesses in Salem who have been financially impacted by...
View ArticleIpswich Housing Forum Sign Ups
After having to cancel the planned in-person Housing Form in late March, Ipswich has pivoted to hosting multiple smaller discussion groups over Zoom. These meetings will be held in mid-May and signups...
View ArticlePublic Hearings Continue for ADUs and Inclusionary Zoning in Salem
On Monday, a joint meeting of the Salem City Council and Planning Board will meet at 7pm over Zoom to hear additional public comment on the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance and Inclusionary...
View ArticleSalem Public Hearings Conclude
Yesterday, Public Hearings for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance and the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance were concluded during a joint meeting of the Salem City Council and Planning Board.The...
View ArticleKing’s Residences Gains Site Approval
The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency has given site approval to King’s Residences, the development of 133 condo units at the site of the former J.B. Thomas Hospital in Peabody.Site approval allows...
View ArticleBeverly Historic Preservation Online Survey
Work on the Beverly Historic Preservation Plan is again underway with a new community-wide online survey. Beverly residents can provide input on the plan by completing the survey which addresses...
View ArticleHousing Lynn Online Open House
Housing Lynn just launched a new Online Open House to receive public comment relevant to the development of the new Lynn Housing Production Plan (HPP).The Online Open House is a survey you can complete...
View ArticleMROD Projects Get Green Light
The Salem Planning Board has given the green light to two North Shore CDC projects that were able to apply for special permits because of the Municipal and Religious Overlay District. NSAR wrote in...
View ArticleSalem Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Vote Tabled
Last night, the Salem by-right ADU Ordinance was before the City Council for a vote of first passage. The ordinance recieved a considerable amount of public comment from Salem residents on both sides...
View ArticleTown Halls Begin to Reopen
As the North Shore begins the process of reopening so do local Town Halls.Lynnfield has already opened their Town Hall by appointment only. Go here to read the full procedure for visiting.Danvers has...
View ArticleCPA Funds to Assist Residents with Rental Payments
Beverly is the most recent local community to propose utilizing Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to offer rental assistance to residents. CPA funds come from a 1% surcharge on property taxes...
View ArticleHousing Lynn Development Panel Discussion 6/17
Next Wednesday, June 17, Housing Lynn will host a virtual panel discussion on the future of residential development in the city.Shaping new development is an important strategy to pursue Lynn’s housing...
View ArticleProjects Working within Remote
Some local projects are getting approvals as remote Zoom meetings become more familiar, but others might have to wait until in-person meetings can resume.In Swampscott, site plan approval for a 55+...
View ArticleBriscoe School Project Gets City Council Approval
The Briscoe School project has been approved by the Beverly City Council. The project is a collaboration of Harborlight Community Partners and Beacon Communities named Briscoe Village for Living &...
View ArticleInclusionary Zoning Ordinance in Salem Falls Short
Yesterday, the Salem City Council voted on the Inclusionary Zoning ordinance which failed to meet the required supermajority for first passage. Failure to meet the required supermajority means the...
View ArticleNorthern Strand Zoning Overlay Survey
A new survey has been posted to get input from Lynn residents and community stakeholders concerning a Northern Strand Zoning Overlay.Massachusetts recently announced plans to complete the Northern...
View ArticleSalem Resident Nominated to Housing Court
A local Salem resident, Alexander Mitchell-Munevar, has been nominated by Governor Baker as a judge on the Massachusetts Housing Court.The Housing Court handles cases such as landlord-tenant issues,...
View ArticleSalem's New Green Building Ordinance
A new, environmentally focused ordinance was introduced at the last Salem City Council meeting. The Salem Green Building Ordinance would introduce new requirements for commercial and residential new...
View ArticlePeabody Development Sees Appeal from Neighborhood
An appeal has been filed in Land Court against the special permit granted by Peabody City Council’s 9-2 to the 38-unit condo development at 40-42 Endicott St by neighbors of the project.The appeal...
View ArticlePaving the way for New Beverly Waterfront Restaurant
At 1 Water St, a city owned lot in Beverly, a lease has been signed for a 350-seat waterfront restaurant called Mission Boathouse.Except, it is not completely clear if such a lease is allowable. In...
View ArticleHUD Abolishes the Affirmatively Further Fair Housing Rule
The National Association of REALTORS® has voiced concern over HUD eliminating the Affirmatively Further Fair Housing Rule (AFFH) and replacing it with Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice.AFFH...
View ArticleRockport Adopts Community Impact Fee
At its annual town meeting last Saturday, Rockport voted to adopt two articles that will impose a 3% Community Impact Fee on short term rentals. 3% is the maximum percentage that can be implemented.A...
View ArticleGloucester to Resume Hearings for Special Permits
Gloucester has now resumed public hearings for special permits. This comes after the city council had delayed public hearings and site visits until after the state of emergency in April.The hearings...
View ArticleThe Trustees Report release "State of the Coast"
The Trustees of Reservations has released a report that analyzes the impact of climate change on the North Shore coastline. The report, named State of the Coast, focuses on the shoreline from...
View ArticleSaugus looks towards 2035
Saugus has partnered with the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) to update its Master Plan. Areas of focus for the Master Plan include: land use, housing, economic development,...
View ArticleHousing Lynn Virtual Forum
On Wednesday, September 23rd, at 6:00pm, Housing Lynn will be hosting another virtual forum. The forum will get feedback from community members on types of housing development they would like to see as...
View ArticleUpcoming Beverly Historic Preservation Plan Public Forum
Beverly is hosting a community-wide public forum to discuss the draft recommendations for Beverly’s Historic Preservation Plan tomorrow, September 22nd, at 7:00pm.The Historic Preservation Plan, which...
View ArticleLynn City Council Hears Multiple Ordinances Related to Properties
Yesterday, Lynn City Council held public hearings on a number of ordinances including a Short-Term Rental Ordinance, an Ordinance to Require All Rental Units to be Inspected Every Five Years, and an...
View ArticleNFIP Extended to September 2021
Yesterday, the insurance writing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program received a one-year extension through a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open. After a 2 year...
View Article
