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Boston Housing Authority - Orchard Commons Dedication/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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Contact: Daniel Cruz, Jr., CRUZ Development Corporation, 617-445-6901,

319 Dudley Street, Roxbury, Mass. --- At 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 27, 2000, CRUZ Development Corporation commemorates their part in the building and enhancement of local communities with a Dedication/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony marking the completion of the first phase of construction at Orchard Commons. The Honorable Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other community leaders, including Ms. Sandra B. Henriquez, Boston Housing Authority Administrator will participate in the event.

Orchard Commons is the result of the Orchard Park Off-Site Phase 1 project, part of the comprehensive revitalization of the Orchard Park community which the Boston Housing Authority has undertaken with funds awarded under the federal Hope VI program. It is the first of two (2) off-site phases that will re-connect Orchard Park with the abutting Mt Pleasant St. neighborhood and yield 115 units of mixed-income housing along the Dudley Street spine. There are 76 units in Phase 1, 64 of which will be public housing units; in fact, 85% of the housing created by the two Orchard Park Phases is committed to affordability. Phase 1 included the in-filling of 53 vacant lots and demolition of two (2) dilapidated and blighted buildings that has redefined the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood.

CRUZ Development Corporation is one of four operations owned and managed by the Cruz family. Founder John B. Cruz, Jr.; President John B. Cruz III; and Vice President Daniel Cruz, Jr. will head the dedication ceremony. John B. Cruz Construction is the contractor for Orchard Commons. This year, J.B. Cruz Construction Company Inc., under the ownership of John B. Cruz, Jr., with President John B. Cruz III celebrates its 51st year of successful operation. The Orchard Park Off-Site initiative brings the total of housing units developed by Cruz companies to over 1600, with another 225 units in the planning stage. The CRUZ tradition of working hard and actively supporting the local community residents and entrepreneurs continues and is evidenced by their successful employment on this project of more than 60% minority workers. The other CRUZ operations are CRUZ Development, CRUZ Management Company, Inc., and CRUZ Relocation a division of CRUZ Management.