Monthly Archives: February 2016

Affordability to be Extended for Residents at Chelsea Square in Chelsea with $5.1 Million...

Families living at the 71-unit Chelsea Square apartments in Chelsea will see the extension of affordability as a result of $5.1 million in MassHousing financing. Chelsea Square Associates, which owns Chelsea Square, is refinancing the property and will extend the federal Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contact on the 71 apartments for 20 years.

Elderly Residents at King’s Beach Tower in Lynn will see Extension of Affordability as...

Crowninshield Management Corporation has refinanced King's Beach Tower and has extended the federal Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contact on the 183 apartments for 20 years as part of the MassHousing financing.

March Mobile Office Hours On Cape Cod

Rep. Bill Keating’s office will be holding two Mobile Office Hours in March on the Cape. The first will take place Wednesday, March 2nd in Harwich. The second will be on Tuesday, March 15th in Brewster.

Here’s Why I Stayed at a Homeless Shelter

Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) spoke on the House floor today about his recent overnight stay at the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of Greater Worcester, a local homeless shelter. This was Congressman McGovern’s second time staying at the shelter and part of his ongoing efforts to raise awareness about homelessness and increase support for efforts to reduce it in Massachusetts and across the country.

Massachusetts Appeals Court Upholds MERS as a Mortgagee with the Right to Assign the...

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Appeals Court, in affirming the dismissal of a borrower’s wrongful foreclosure lawsuit against a loan servicer, upheld MERS’ interest as the mortgagee and the right to assign the interest

Buyer Demand Keeps Massachusetts Home Sales Strong to Start 2016

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that 2016 started where 2015 left off with closed sales continuing to go up on strong buyer demand. Activity in the final months of 2015 pushed closed sales to its highest levels for a month of January since 2004. While single-family closed sales were up, median prices were essentially level compared to the same time last year. Condominium sales also closed up with median prices down almost one percent

Boston Public Library Commemorates Phase One Anniversary of Central Library Renovation

The Boston Public Library celebrates the first anniversary of Phase One of the Central Library Renovation this month. It opened its doors to the new second floor of the Johnson building at the Central Library in Copley Square in February 2015. In the past year, 1,290 programs were held at the new Children’s Library and Teen Central, and more than 1.5 million library users visited, checking out over 832,000 items. Phase Two of the $78 million Central Library Renovation is underway now, and is slated to open in summer 2016

Several Third District communities to receive over $5 million in federal funding

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that Third District communities Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell will receive federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to support housing rehabilitation, public service projects and local infrastructure

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator Recognized for Outstanding Service

A resident of Fairhaven, Daniel Freitas, the Chief Operator of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Wastewater Treatment Plant, was recently honored with a "2015 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Excellence Award" by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s New England regional office. Mr. Freitas was recognized for having done an outstanding job over the years in operating and maintaining the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s wastewater treatment facility in Buzzards Bay, Mass.

HSBC to Pay $4 Million, Refund Homeowners for Accepting Compensation Tied to Force-Placed Insurance

National mortgage lender and servicer HSBC has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations that it received commissions and other kickbacks relating to force-placed insurance policies that it procured for struggling Massachusetts homeowners, Attorney General Maura Healey announced toda

Mayor Walsh Announces Vendor for Homeless Coordinated Access System

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that the City has selected Green River as the vendor to create a new Coordinated Access platform to streamline Boston's approach to helping homeless individuals access housing and services. This technology is a key deliverable on the Walsh Administration's Action Plan To End Chronic Homelessness Among Individuals in Boston.

Governor Charlie Baker Appoints Michael Case As Board Chair At Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

Governor Charlie Baker today visited the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home to tour the facility and swear in Michael F. Case as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Baker was joined by local legislators and visited with residents to discuss the administration’s ongoing commitment to supporting the facility

Keating Announces 4 Local Army Corps Projects

Four local projects that Rep. Bill Keating advanced with the Army Corps of Engineers have been funded in the Army Corps’ New England District work plan for 2016.  The proposed projects, which are listed below and total over $2.3 million, are located in Marshfield, Duxbury, Plymouth, and Chatham.

KENNEDY, MARKEY RESPOND TO RESULTS OF NEW ENGLAND ELECTRICITY CAPACITY AUCTION

With their constituents already paying the highest energy rates in the continental United States, Congressman Joe Kennedy III and Senator Edward J. Markey again raised concerns about costs, specifically ISO-NE’s 10th Forward Capacity Auction (FCA10) and its impact on New England consumers. While the results of FCA10 ensure reliable electricity, Kennedy and Markey continue to call on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to carefully review the results and consider their impact on consumers

Governor Baker, Mayor Walsh Announce Joint Community Redevelopment Venture in Downtown Boston

State and city partnership with Veolia will explore strategic redevelopment of MassDOT District 6 and steam facility for economic growth, transit-oriented affordable housing and open space

Recent

AG Healey Secures $2 Million in Restitution for 20,000 Massachusetts Homeowners...

One of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers will pay $2 million in restitution to resolve allegations that it violated state law and committed unfair and deceptive practices by charging Massachusetts homeowners for unnecessary fees and overpriced force-placed insurance policies, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today