BOSTON - State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, voted Monday to pass legislation that would allow the state to encourage homeownership in areas where a weak market exists.
"This homeownership incentive will encourage community development and revitalization by investing in neighborhoods where the housing market is deemed weak," said Downing in a press release. "This legislation makes the dream of homeownership a reality for residents across the commonwealth."
The legislation would allow the state's Department of Housing and Community Development to waive housing program requirements if they are inconsistent with promoting homeownership in weak markets. This includes reducing affordability terms to no less than 10 years from 15 or more years, and raising income requirements so that incomes that do not exceed 135 percent of the area's median income will be eligible. The legislation makes up to $5 million available in capital money to be used for these purposes.
The bill also requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop criteria to determine whether a weak market exists. These criteria may include the concentration of assisted rental units, rate of homeownership, median income lower than area median, low average sale, high or unpaid property taxes and vacant buildings.
The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives, where it awaits further action.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant
Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building.
"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu.
A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building.
White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.
He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns.
Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot.
A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use.
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