Mayor Walsh announces nearly $39M for affordable housing in Boston

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced nearly $39 million to support affordable housing developments in neighborhoods throughout Boston. The funding, which will create or preserve 1,194 housing units, is possible through $27 million in federal and local resources through the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) and $11.7 million in linkage funds through Boston's Neighborhood Housing Trust.

"It is imperative that we continue to support affordable housing in our neighborhoods, and this funding will help many of our families in need of safe housing stay in their homes," said Mayor Walsh. "By investing in housing, we are supporting economic development and creating jobs that will revitalize Boston's neighborhoods for future generations."

In addition, the funding will:

Leverage more than $575 million in public and private investment in neighborhoods;
Create an estimated 1,200 construction jobs; and
Set aside 196 units for homeless or extremely low-income families.

The development budgets for all proposals will total over $614 million of public and private investment in Boston, with the City's investment representing 6 percent of the total capital needed. Many of the proposals are seeking additional support from the state, and Mayor Walsh will work with the Baker Administration and the Department of Housing and Community Development to ensure that Boston has the resources necessary to support much-needed affordable housing. Following is a complete list of the developments that have received funding awards:

Allston-Brighton:

Waverly Abby, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, 28 Units, 28 Affordable Units

This development proposes the renovation and expansion of two existing buildings owned and managed by Bridge Over Troubled Waters (BOTW). The development will result in a 28 all-affordable bed facility for single parents and transitional living opportunities for at-risk youth and families.

132 Chestnut Hill Avenue, JCHE, 61 units, 61 Affordable Units

Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) intends to create 61 units of affordable elderly housing on land from the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The development will include seven units of housing for formerly homeless seniors and a five unit studio grouping for aging adults with lifelong disabilities. This development will be adjacent to JCHE’s existing campus of housing.

Residences at Brighton Marine, Brighton Marine Housing LP, Brighton, 108 Units, 86 Affordable Units

Brighton Marine Health Center and Winn Development will construct a new building and renovate one of the historic buildings on the site currently owned by Brighton Marine. This will create 108 units of mixed income housing with a veterans’ preference. Eighty-six of the units will be affordable.

Charlestown

Ropewalk, Frontier Enterprise, Inc., 80 Units 26 Affordable Units

Frontier Enterprises has been designated by the Boston Redevelopment Authority to redevelop two historic buildings located in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Construction will consist of the gut rehabilitation of an industrial building into 80 units of mixed-income rental housing and the creation of 4,000 square feet of museum space. Twenty-six units will be restricted as affordable. The museum space will display equipment and other items used in the historic rope manufacturing process.

Dorchester

Harmon Apartments, The Boston Home, 39 Units, 33 Affordable Units

The Boston Home will create the Harmon Apartments development on their campus in Dorchester. The developer will construct a 39-unit, mixed-income rental housing development for individuals and families with progressive neurological disabilities. Thirty-three units will be restricted as affordable; all units will be handicapped accessible with specialized technology and services that will allow those with neurological disabilities to continue to live independently.

Ashmont TOD II, Trinity Financial, 87 Units, 53 Affordable Units

Trinity Financial is proposing to create a mixed-use residential development located on Ashmont Street in Dorchester across from their successful mixed use residential building, The Carruth. The project will create a total of 87 units consisting of 48 affordable rental units and 39 ownership units.

Wayne at Bicknell, Cruz Development, 72 Units, 72 Affordable

Cruz Development is proposing the refinance and renovation of a 72-unit expiring-use project that is currently operated as affordable housing serving a very low income population.

Talbot Commons Phase I, Codman Square NDC, 40 Units, 40 Affordable Units

Talbot Commons is the first of a two phase development that Codman Square Community Development Corporation plans to construct in the Talbot Avenue/New England Avenue area. The development will rehabilitate existing buildings, preserving and improving 21 existing affordable units and creating 19 new units of affordable rental housing, including artist live-work units and gallery space, on scattered sites along the Fairmont line.

Greater Four Corners Pilot Project, COHIF, 10 Units, 10 Affordable Units

The Coalition for Occupied Homes in Foreclosure, Inc. (COHIF) has acquired four scattered site properties with a total of ten units in the Greater Four Corners and Grove Hall areas of Dorchester and Roxbury. These properties will be rehabilitated and provide long term affordable rental opportunities for families.

Downtown/Central

Boylston Street Rehab, St. Francis House & POUA, 46 Units, 46 Affordable Units

St. Francis House and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA) are proposing to redevelop 48 Boylston Street in downtown Boston into affordable housing. The development will create 46 units of affordable housing, of which 26 units will be set aside for homeless individuals. This is the first of a three-phase development slated for this site.

The Beverly Street Project- Parcel 1B, Related Beal, Downtown, 239 Units, 239 Affordable Units

Related Beal LLC is proposing a 239-unit affordable housing, mixed use development in downtown Boston. The units will provide affordable housing options to a wide range of incomes from extremely low income households at 30 percent of the area median income (AMI) up to households with incomes at 165 percent of AMI.

East Boston

Paris Village, East Boston CDC, East Boston, 32 Units, 32 Affordable Units

East Boston Community Development Corporation (EBCDC) will construct 32 units of affordable family rental housing in East Boston on vacant land that is currently underutilized. EBCDC has acquired the site and the new housing abuts the former Salesian Boys building.

Coppersmith Village Rental and Homeownership, NOAH, East Boston, 56 Units, 41 Affordable Units

Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) is creating a new mixed use, mixed income development in the heart of East Boston. The project will replace a vacant industrial building and remediate a brownfields site. The development will create 56 rental units, of which 41 units will be affordable. The development will also include commercial space for a local restaurant and create 15 for-sale units of housing, of which 8 will be affordable units.

Hyde Park

Residence at Fairmount Station, Southwest Boston CDC, 27 Units, 27 Affordable Units

This development is a 27 unit affordable mixed–income, transit-oriented development adjacent to the Fairmount Avenue Station on the Fairmount Indigo commuter rail stop in Hyde Park. The development is co-sponsored and developed by Southwest Boston CDC and Codman Square NDC.

Mattapan

Brookview House III, Brookview House, 12 Units, 12 Affordable Units

Brookview House, Inc. proposes to construct a development that will create 12 units of homeless housing for families, along with a youth center for children ages 6 to 19, including classroom space.

Mission Hill

Parcel 25 – Phase 1A, Mission Hill NHS, 40 units, 40 Affordable Units

Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services (MHNHS) will develop a vacant parcel formerly owned by the MBTA, located across from the Roxbury Crossing MBTA Station. The MHNHS will construct a five story, mixed use building that will create 40 units of affordable housing along with community-focused commercial space on the first floor and a new home for Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) on the second level.

Roxbury

Bartlett Yard – Building B, Nuestra Communidad, 60 Units, 38 Affordable Units

Nuestra Communidad and Windale Developers will construct a 60 unit, mixed income and mixed use development. Thirty-eight units will be restricted as affordable. This building will be located at the former MBTA bus yard in Dudley Square.

Walker Park Apartments, Urban Edge, 49 Units, 49 Affordable Units

Urban Edge is proposing to construct two new buildings located on two different sites in the Egleston Square section of Boston. The buildings will provide 49 new units of affordable rental housing. The project is a Lean Pilot Project that seeks to streamline the pre-development, construction approval process and reduce costs.

Kasanoff Homes (Ownership), Nuestra Communidad, 16 Units, 16 Affordable Units

Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation will complete the second phase of the former Kasanoff Bakery site. This development will create 16 units of affordable mixed income ownership housing with incomes ranging up to 100 percent of median income.

The Clarion, The Community Builders, 40 Units, 32 Affordable Units

The Community Builders is proposing to construct two buildings on the combined site: a four story, mixed use building along with ground floor commercial along Blue Hill Avenue and a 2 ½ story two-family residences on Holborn Street in Roxbury. The development will create 40 units of rental housing, of which 32 units will be affordable.

South Boston

374 Dorchester Street, Bay Cove, 21 Units, 21 Affordable Units

This development proposes the renovation of a building recently purchased by Bay Cove Human Services, the long-term manager of the property. After the renovations, the development will result in a 21-bed facility for homeless individuals.

206 West Broadway, South Boston NDC, South Boston, 16 Units, 16 Affordable Units

South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation (South Boston NDC) and Caritas Communities will create a four story building on two City of Boston parcels, creating a 16 unit affordable rental development on West Broadway in South Boston. This site is located two blocks from transit.