$69 Million Investment to Create and Preserve More Than 775 Income-Restricted Homes Across Boston

Today, Mayor Michelle Wu announced this year’s affordable rental, homeownership, and cooperative housing funding awards.

In collaboration with the Neighborhood Housing Trust (NHT) and the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), Mayor Wu recommended funding to be awarded to projects that will create or preserve 826 housing units, with 775 designated as income-restricted homes. The $68.96 million in awards will support 14 developments spanning nine neighborhoods, utilizing various funding resources such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP), HOME, Community Preservation Act (CPA), and Linkage.

“Collaborating closely with community across neighborhoods, we’re leveraging all available resources within the city to tackle Boston’s housing challenges,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “These housing grants will strengthen our communities, enhance affordability, and continue to establish Boston as a home for current residents, families, and future generations. Thank you to the Neighborhood Housing Trust and the Community Preservation Committee for their partnership as we continue our efforts to build a Boston that is home for everyone.”

The Mayor’s Office of Housing, the CPC and the NHT released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit support for income-restricted housing initiatives. In response to the RFP, 24 teams submitted proposals totaling over $115 million. The submissions were subjected to a rigorous evaluation against specific criteria, including team capacity, financial feasibility, cost to public funders, design, equity and inclusion, community support, and market need.

The awarded projects are found in neighborhoods across the City including:

Allston / Brighton:

• 95 Everett Street is an 88-unit, transit-oriented development by Pennrose, LLC. Within this development, 73 units will be allocated for households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. Additionally, the building will feature first-floor space designated for local commercial and/or community cultural uses.

Charlestown:

• Independence at the Navy Yard is a project led by The Planning Office of Urban Affairs and St. Francis House, which will convert the vacant Constitution Inn into 100 units of affordable rental housing. Among these, 48 units will be dedicated to providing supportive housing for women and veterans transitioning out of homelessness. The remaining 52 units will be available for households with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the area median income.

Dorchester:

• The New North Building on St. Mary’s Campus is a collaboration between St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children and the Planning Office of Urban Affairs and is the first phase of the St. Mary’s campus revitalization. This phase will replace an outdated shelter building and parking structure with 71 new apartments. These residences will be dedicated to families transitioning out of homelessness, with eligibility for households earning up to 30% of the area median income. Residents of this building will benefit from enhanced program spaces and comprehensive supportive services.
• 150 Centre Street at Shawmut Station, a project by Trinity Financial, will create 72 new affordable rental homes at a transit-oriented site, adjacent to the Shawmut MBTA station. The proposed buildings will offer a range of apartment sizes to accommodate households with incomes spanning from 30% to 120% of the area median income.
• 247 Hancock Street will be developed by Arx Urban. The project will convert an underutilized car wash into a residential complex. This mixed-income, transit-oriented development will create 47 rental homes. 35 of the homes will be reserved for households with incomes ranging from 30% to 60% of the area median income. 
• Hillsboro Live Work Condominiums, a development by New Atlantic Development in collaboration with the Humphrey’s Street Artist community, will construct 21 new affordable homeownership units, with a preference for artists. The project will serve a variety of household sizes with incomes between 80% and 100% of the area median income.

East Boston:

• 2 Shawsheen, a project by the East Boston Community Development Corporation, will construct 22 new affordable homeownership units on a vacant site in the Orient Heights neighborhood of East Boston. These units are specifically designed to accommodate moderate-income families with larger space requirements, who earn between 70 to 100% of the area median income. A future phase will create rental housing, contributing to a diverse range of affordable housing options within this neighborhood.

Jamaica Plain:

• The Forbes Building, a project by the Jamaica Plain Company, contains 147 units of occupied, currently unrestricted, mixed-income housing. To preserve its affordability, eliminate its reliance on fossil fuels, and allow it to become passive house and BERDO compliant, the proposed development will utilize significant public and private investment.

Mattapan:

• Residences at Blue Hill is a proposed residential development by Lincoln Avenue Capital. Located on the corner of Blue Hill Avenue and Culbert Street, this five-story building will create 41 new income-restricted apartments on a previously vacant site. The apartments will be accessible to households with incomes ranging from 30% to 60% of the area median income.
• Tree House at Olmsted Village will be constructed on one of the remaining sites at the former Mattapan State Hospital campus. 2 Life Communities will create 40 apartments for older adults with incomes between 30% and 60% of the area median income.  Additionally, the development will provide new housing for adoptive and foster families and apartments for youth transitioning out of the foster care system. Emphasizing community inclusivity, the project will feature gathering areas, a play space, and a community kitchen.
• 30-36 Mildred Avenue, a collaborative effort between Norfolk Design & Construction and the Trustees of Reservations and the surrounding community, will develop four city-owned parcels into six new homeownership units and a community garden. These units are intended for buyers with incomes falling between 80% and 100% of the area median income and will provide an opportunity for homeownership within the community.

Mission Hill:

• Parcel 25 Phase 3 marks a significant project by Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, involving the development of a six-story building with 94 units. Situated on an MBTA-owned parcel adjacent to the Roxbury Crossing Orange Line stop, this development plays a crucial role in fulfilling the community’s vision for the revitalization of the neighborhood. The project is designed to accommodate residents with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the area median income.

Roslindale:

• 4200 Washington Street, a transit-oriented development centrally located in Roslindale Village, is set to offer 31 units of mixed-income housing, 27 of units will be restricted to households earning up to 60% area median income. Additionally, the development encompasses over 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and includes a 2,500-square-foot community theater. Developed by Boston Communities, the project emphasizes the retention of existing businesses on the site, contributing to the vibrancy and continuity of the local business community.

Roxbury:

• Nehemiah at 157 Blue Hill Avenue is a collaborative effort between Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and Nuestra Communidad. This four-story development will create 26 income-restricted family rental units for households earning up to 60% area median income. Situated adjacent to an existing church, the residential building will provide essential housing and feature 2000 sq. ft. of community space for resident use as well as local events and learning opportunities.

Source: Boston.gov