News & Updates

BPDA approves new affordable housing in Roxbury and Dorchester

Sep 13, 2021

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors this month approved two new development projects and two updates to previously approved projects. The new projects will create 265 residential units, 103 of which will be designated income-restricted. The approved new development projects represent 257,601 square feet and will support 231 construction jobs and eight direct jobs.

The BPDA Board also voted to advance the Coastal Flood Resilience Zoning Overlay District, requiring developers to take additional steps to limit the impacts of coastal storms and sea level rise. The Zoning Overlay District goes beyond the areas identified in FEMA flood maps, and will require all development projects subject to BPDA’s Article 80 Large and Small Project Review to undergo Resilience Review, and comply with the Coastal Flood Resilience Design Guidelines.

Development Projects

75/78 Willow Court and 16 Baker Court brings new housing units to Dorchester
Live: 191 units - 99 homeownership units, 29 income-restricted units, three buildings
Work: 300 construction jobs, close proximity to South Bay Mall and Newmarket for job opportunities
Connect: Bike storage and repair, Bluebikes station, proximity to public transport
Sustain: Improvements to landscaping and streetscaping, LEED Gold, electric vehicle charging stations, installing new underground utilities

Located in Dorchester, this project will build three new buildings and create 191 new housing units, 29 of which will be income-restricted. The developer will also create new open space, as well as parking for 46 vehicles. The units will be a mix of studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and three-bedrooms; 92 will be rentals, and 99 will be condominium units. As part of the community benefits for the project, the developer will construct a Bluebikes station onsite, bury new utilities underground, and remove old power lines and utility poles considered dangerous, as well as create overall pedestrian friendly improvements to the site that will also help to calm traffic in the area. The project will also contribute to improvements at nearby Sharon’s Park, Paul’s Park, and Richardson Park, Dot Art for youth programming, as well as the Dorchester Historical Society for programming and preservation in the neighborhood.

Cheney Street Apartments will build completely affordable, majority senior housing in Roxbury
Live: 74 Affordable Units, 59 Senior Rental Units and 15 homeownership units
Work: 3,000 SF PACE Alternative care center
Connect: 5,500 SF of community space
Sustain: LEED Silver

Located just off of Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury, The Cheney Street apartments will add 74 new affordable housing units, including 59 senior rental units and 15 homeownership units designed for families. The project will include approximately 5,500 square feet of community space, including a community room and resident space where neighborhood events can be hosted. The project will also include a 3,000 square foot PACE Alternative Care Center, a comprehensive health and wellness program that helps seniors meet their health care needs. The project will meet LEED Silver sustainability standards.

In addition to the new projects, the BPDA Board approved two updates to previously approved projects:

205 Maverick Street: The Board approved a change from rental to condominium units.
88 North Washington: The Board approved a change of ownership. In addition, construction is being converted from concrete to mass timber, an environmentally friendly material. The number of hotel rooms has been reduced from 68 to 31.

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