West Broadway Homes |
|
More than 15 years ago, three quarters of the West Broadway development received comprehensive modernization. Unfortunately, funding ran out and a quarter of the development deteriorated and became uninhabitable. Through creative financing with the BHA, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, the City of Boston and private developers, the BHA was able to redevelop this last portion of West Broadway into new townhouses with single entryways and individual backyards. The $36.4 million project consists of 133 new apartments, a playground on each new block, a community service center, and new streets improving circulation. The 15-year vacancy was put to rest in August of 2005, and all units will remain public housing.
|
Infill Housing & West Concord |
|
Over the past several years, the BHA has collaborated with a number of community development corporations to reclaim public housing that had fallen into disrepair or vacancy. In the process, the partners have accessed innovative funding that would not have been available to the BHA, and they have preserved 184 units of affordable housing throughout the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and the South End of Boston.
The historic Albemarle and Chatham Hotels make up two of the four buildings known as the West Concord development. The 68 apartments in these four buildings, located on different blocks in the South End neighborhood, were redeveloped by two local organizations that were able to assemble a financing package that included state and local resources, low-income housing and historic preservation tax credits. Returning to its early history, the property took on its original name as Interfaith Apartments and residents returned to their newly renovated apartments in the Summer of 2004.
Properties known as the “Infills,” made up of 26 two-family duplex and two single-family homes on lots in Roxbury and Dorchester, were redeveloped by four local Community Development Corporations that worked together to coordinate a common approach. Beginning in 2003, the CDCs involved took title to the various properties and began renovations. The first completed units were sold to low-income families, including several former BHA residents in 2004.
|
Franklin Hill |
With so many redevelopments completed, the BHA is currently embarking on its latest effort: the redevelopment of the severely distressed Franklin Hill, a 366-unit family public housing development located in Dorchester. The Mayor, the BHA, and several City departments have prioritized Franklin Hill as a key City initiative that will transform both the site and neighborhood.
The redevelopment program calls for the new construction of 266 affordable rental units, including replacement public housing rental units, project-based voucher rental units, and low income housing tax credit rental units. . This redevelopment is taking place in multiple phases. Phase 1, completed in March 2008, consisted of the construction of 114 affordable rental units in mid-rise and townhouse-style buildings. The remaining 152 rental units are scheduled to be ready for occupancy in December 2009.
As part of redevelopment, the BHA and Trinity Financial, Inc. are implementing extensive “green” energy efficient measures, many of which were installed at the award-winning Maverick Landing development in East Boston where, BHA and Trinity Financial, Inc. facilitated a fully integrated design process with financial assistance from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), resulting in solar panels, co-generation, and greener envelope, roof, and HVAC systems.
In addition to funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Franklin Hill redevelopment has received generous support from the City of Boston (including the Neighborhood Housing Trust, Department of Neighborhood Development, Boston Water & Sewer Commission, and the Department of Public Works), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MassHousing, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and private investors. The Franklin Hill Tenant Taskforce has been and continues to be an important partner to the BHA throughout the planning and development stages.
|
