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Boston Housing Authority - BHA and JPNDC announce funding for Bickford Street

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Contact: Lydia Agro,, Communications Director, 988-4109

A grant of $5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow the redevelopment of a long-time vacant public housing building in Jamaica Plain. The building, located at 80-90 Bickford Street, will become 56 one-bedroom apartments for frail elderly residents.

The property will also be the beneficiary of $768,000 in city funding as it is part of Mayor Menino’s Leading the Way Housing Strategy and represents the Boston Housing Authority’s efforts to reoccupy all of its vacant units. The city funding combined with the HUD grant will bring this property back into use after more than 10 years. The property is currently uninhabitable due to the need for major capital improvement and was originally constructed as a BHA elderly housing development.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring back into use 56 apartments for the frail elderly, a population that certainly deserves our help and support,” said BHA Administrator Sandra Henriquez. “This is another step toward our goal of reoccupying all vacant BHA units and we look forward to working with all of our partners to bring this project to fruition.”

The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation will rehabilitate the nine-story building so that 7 apartments, along with laundry facilities and a social sitting area, exist on each floor. The BHA designated the JPNDC as the property developer, along with its partners, the Committee to End Elder Homelessness and Bromley/Heath Tenant Management Corporation, earlier this year. Unit and building improvements will include interior configuration to enlarge kitchen and bathrooms, the addition of safety grab bars in units, front entrance security systems and a unit emergency call system. Five percent of the units will be handicapped accessible and two percent will be equipped for seniors with hearing and vision impairments. Services related to nutrition, health, legal issues and transportation will also be provided for the new residents. Social services will be provided and the service plan will focus on allowing seniors to age in place and maintain as much independence as possible.

“There is a tremendous need in our neighborhood for affordable housing for the elderly,” said JPNDC Executive Director, Richard Thal. “There is no way a person on a fixed income can afford market rents in Jamaica Plain, and nearby elderly housing developments have waiting lists of more than 400 names. Fortunately,” he added, “a team of three excellent organizations has come together to ensure that future residents of the Bickford Street building will be able to grow older with dignity, even as they need increasing amounts of assistance.”

The BHA will designate the building to JPNDC and sign a long-term ground lease as part of the redevelopment process. Construction is expected to begin next year and the building is expected to be ready for occupancy during the summer of 2003.

The project drew support from a number of community partners and elected officials, including U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, State Senator Dianne Wilkerson, State Representative Kevin Fitzgerald and City Councilor Maura Hennigan.