BPDA approves new affordable housing in Brighton, Dorchester
Feb 15, 2024
New project in Fenway will create new civic and open space
BOSTON - February 15, 2024 - The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors Thursday approved three new development projects representing approximately 1,027,190 square feet (SF). The new projects will create 152 residential units, 127 units, or 84 percent of these units are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 841 construction jobs and 1,799 permanent jobs. These projects will make Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city.
Development Projects
Live: 122 residential units, 71 permanent supportive housing units + 51 renovated shelter units
Work: Approximately 177 construction jobs, St. Mary’s Center will continue operations throughout construction
Connect: Bike parking, accessibility improvements throughout campus
Sustain: LEED Gold certified
This project will create 71 new income-restricted housing units for low-income families, as well as renovate 51 current shelter units at St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children. St. Mary’s is housed in the former St. Margaret’s Hospital, a retrofitted maternity hospital with buildings dating to the early and mid-to-late 20th century. Situated in close proximity to Uphams Corner in Dorchester, St. Mary's annually provides support to more than 500 women and children through its facilities in Dorchester and East Boston. The services offered include shelter, clinical and educational assistance, job training, employment placement, and assistance in securing permanent housing. The new income-restricted housing will replace what is currently a parking garage and current transitional housing building on the St. Mary's campus. Both will be demolished to provide these new housing units, which will include a mix of two and three-bedroom units. The renovated building includes 51 shelter units. It will also continue to house the St. Mary’s adult family shelter program, Margaret’s House, and the Young Parenting Living Program. This a transit-oriented project, as it is in close proximity to public transportation. It is also near important resources such as a branch of the Boston Public Library, grocery stores, and other retail options.
1400 Boylston Street project to build new mixed use development in the Fenway, construct new space intended for use as a BPL branch
Live: Support for 48 off-site income-restricted homeownership units, $5.8 million in linkage funding to support affordable housing
Work: Approximately 644 construction jobs, approximately 1,798 permanent jobs, $1 million in linkage funding to support jobs training
Connect: 1,000 feet of new bike lanes, new civic building
Sustain: Publicly accessible green space, net zero carbon hybrid electric building
What is currently a grocery store and several parking lots will be converted into a large, mixed-use development completing the western entrance to the City from Boylston Street. This mix of retail, restaurant, office/lab space, and green space will create a vibrant public realm for pedestrians, and improve what is a currently underutilized site. Adjacent to the new half acre of green space on site, this project has committed $12 million to building a brand new civic building which is intended to be used as a new branch of the Boston Public Library. The project will contribute $250,000 to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to support Ramler Park and $1.5 million to Parks and Recreation to mitigate any possible project impacts to the Emerald Necklace. To support the creation of affordable housing in the City, this project will contribute $5.8 million in linkage funding, and it will also contribute $18 million to subsidize the creation of income-restricted homeownership units at the nearby 165 Park Drive project. In support of the bikeshare program, the project will contribute $147,830 to the Boston Transportation Department and provide two bikeshare stations onsite. In addition, this project will invest $2.7 million in enhancing Park Drive and Boylston Street with pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Live: 30 residential units, five income-restricted units
Work: Approximately 20 construction jobs, retail space
Connect: Close proximity to public transit
Sustain: LEED Gold certified, all electric building systems
Located in Brighton, this project is a six-story building with 30 new residences, five of which will be income-restricted. The units will be a mix of studios, one, and two-bedroom units. In addition, this project will include indoor and outdoor bike parking, as well as ground floor retail space. As part of the mitigation for this project, it will contribute $8,250 in support of the City’s bikeshare program. This project is located within the study area of the Allston-Brighton Needs Assessment, which was adopted by the BPDA Board in January. This project meets the community needs identified in the report by providing transit-oriented housing including four income-restricted units.
In addition to these projects, the board approved:
-
The Notice of Project Change for 3 Aspinwall Road which increases the size and unit count of the project.