Mayor Kim Janey, South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, Caritas Communities and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) celebrated the grand opening of the O'Connor Way Senior Housing Development today in South Boston. The project has brought 46 one-bedroom units of affordable housing to South Boston using formerly vacant Boston Housing Authority land and Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) funds secured through the Boston Planning & Development Agency.
"I’m delighted to welcome the new residents of O'Connor Way Senior Housing,” said Mayor Janey. “As Boston residents age, many want to continue living in the city they’ve known and loved for their entire lives. This new development has replaced an empty lot with beautiful, affordable homes for seniors in our South Boston neighborhood."
O'Connor Way Senior Housing was built on BHA land that had been vacant for over 50 years. The development includes 24 units that are subsidized using federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and 22 units made deeply affordable through project-based vouchers administered by BHA.
"South Boston NDC is thrilled to have completed and occupied this affordable housing development for the elderly during this challenging time of the pandemic. Now, more than ever, we need to protect our most vulnerable residents and provide them with a safe place to live and thrive," said Donna Brown, executive director of South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation. " We appreciate the strong support from the City of Boston through the Boston Housing Authority and the Boston Planning & Development Agency, as well as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
The $20.8 million project was funded in part through the Inclusionary Development Program (IDP) contributions from the 150 Seaport Boulevard and Pier 4 development projects built by Cronin Development and Tishman Speyer on the South Boston Waterfront, and financed by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. Other funders include MassDevelopment, Rockland Trust Corp., TD Charitable Foundation and the Charles H. Farnsworth Trust.
“Three years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine the beautiful community that is now standing here at O’Connor Way,” BHA Administrator Kate Bennett said. “Every unit in this new community represents a new opportunity for Boston residents to age in place with dignity and peace of mind. It is exciting to see such a creative idea come together and have such an immediate impact.”
“Caritas Communities is proud to be a partner in creating this deeply affordable and accessible housing for low-income seniors,” said Karin Cassel Mitterando, executive director of Caritas Communities. “This project aligns with our mission to prevent homelessness through housing with support for extremely low-income people – because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.”
The property includes a community room, a laundry room, management office, and a patio. The building is sustainable at a LEED Silver certifiable level. The development has on-site property management and full-time resident support services from the South Boston Neighborhood House.