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BPDA celebrates ribbon cutting ceremony for the Smith House Renovation and Dewitt Center

Oct 03, 2018

On October 3, 2018 the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) celebrated the ribbon cutting for two Roxbury projects: Smith House and the Dewitt Center.

The Smith House provides 132 one-bedroom units of affordable, senior housing in a 12-story building constructed between 1973 and 1974. This project was part of Madison Park Development Corporation’s (MPDC) larger master plan for modernizing Madison Park Village, which contains a total of 546 units.

The renovation of Smith House created a healthier, safer living space for seniors, with programmed common spaces and appropriate age-friendly features. Amenity spaces include flex office space for medical services and case managers. Capital improvements will extend the useful life of the building and its systems. Additional key improvements include new boilers, windows, air conditioning, bathrooms and kitchens.

The new Dewitt Center opened in July and plays an essential role in bringing people together and providing much needed space for community and workforce development activities. Programming space includes out-of-school education programming, health and wellness activities, a public internet center, a teen center, along with recreational and multipurpose rooms.

Over 15 partners began running programs in the Dewitt Center this summer. The center provides flexible space for activities ranging from job fairs to indoor walking for seniors. MPDC is building on solid, long-term partnerships with service providers for these spaces, ensuring that this facility will be a central, well-utilized anchor for the community.

Director Brian Golden remarked, “As PLAN: Dudley moves forward, our goals continue to be to use public land to bring additional affordable and middle income housing to the district, and create good jobs and sustainable economic development. Furthermore, PLAN: Dudley will seek to encourage even more stakeholder participation. This is not so much about real estate development; in fact it is most specifically about community and neighborhood development. I thank Madison Park Development Corporation for their shared commitment to those goals.”

Last month, the BPDA approved the latest phase of modernization for Madison Park Village, the Haynes House renovation. The $18 million project will renovate 131 housing units and preserve 121 as affordable. No current residents will be displaced.

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