Boston – Construction is underway on the redevelopment of Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Boston’s Jackson Square neighborhood. The groundbreaking celebration hosted by The Community Builders (TCB) and Boston Housing Authority (BHA) included officials from the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED), MassHousing, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) and the Mildred C. Hailey tenant task force. The groundbreaking starts the first phase of the Centre Street Partners (CSP) collaboration, of TCB, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) and Urban Edge, designated by the BHA to redevelop a portion of the landmark public housing site.
The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction for two six-story buildings which will be located at 2 and 6 Lamartine Street, once a new road is constructed as part of the project. The two new buildings will include 223 affordable and moderate-income apartments, a new Anna Mae Cole Community Center and ground floor commercial space.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter for Jackson Square, one that will monumentally improve the health and wellbeing of our public housing residents, and bring new affordable housing that the city desperately needs,” BHA Administrator Kate Bennett said. “This is a great day for our residents, for our neighbors in Jamaica Plain, and for future generations of low income families who will proudly call Mildred Hailey their home.”
“The Mildred Hailey community has a rich legacy of activism and leadership that has helped to shape our city,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This project will secure that legacy for hundreds of families improving health and quality of life, while adding hundreds of new affordable housing opportunities to Jamaica Plain. I’m thrilled that this redevelopment is moving forward and grateful to all of our partners for ensuring that the Midlred Hailey continues to be a staple for our residents, families and the Jackson Square neighborhood.”
Over the next decade, CSP will develop a five-phase project to replace seven residential buildings with seven new residential buildings with approximately 673 homes, preserving 253 affordable units for current residents and creating approximately 420 new homes for low and moderate-income families. The project is designed with a ‘build first’ model that prioritizes on-site relocation wherever possible to minimize disruption for residents.
Residents in the 253 public housing units slated for redevelopment will have a right to return to a brand-new apartment at Mildred Hailey once construction is complete. Approximately 516 remaining units of public housing at Mildred Hailey will remain in the Public Housing program under BHA ownership and will receive comprehensive modernization because of a $50 million funding commitment from Mayor Wu.
“Today we celebrate the start of the transformation at Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, a mixed-income, mixed-use development contributing to Jackson Square’s ongoing revitalization,” said Andy Waxman, TCB New England vice president of development. “On behalf of The Community Builders, I extend my deepest thanks and a well-earned congratulations to the many partners, stakeholders and neighbors who made this project possible, including the City of Boston, the BHA, DHCD, EOHED, MassHousing, CEDAC and especially the individuals and families that call Mildred C. Hailey home. Together we will make Jackson Square an even better place for people of every income to live, work and thrive.”
The new 6,800 square foot Anna Mae Cole Community Center will be part of 2 Lamartine Street and will feature an open court for programming, events and sports, a multi-purpose room, and a kitchen. The center will provide flexible programming space to meet diverse resident needs, including educational workshops and classes. The center is named after Anna Mae Cole, a resident and community activist who advocates for improved services for residents of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood.
The project includes enhanced green space through the creation of a community plaza with pedestrian paths, seating areas, improved landscaping and an outdoor courtyard at both buildings. In addition, the project includes approximately 1,520 square feet of commercial space.
“Over the last two decades, thoughtful, community-led development has brought hundreds of new housing units and hundreds of millions in public and private investment to Jackson Square. The transformation of the Mildred Hailey Apartments is major achievement for the Centre Street Partners collaboration and for the families and residents who make Jackson Square a vibrant neighborhood,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox. “We are proud to partner with The Community Developers, JPNDC, Urban Edge, and the Boston Housing Authority to ensure this project moves forward over the next decade, and residents have access to modern, high-quality, public housing options.”
“MassHousing is excited for the residents of the Mildred Hailey Apartments who will see their antiquated public housing transformed into new, modern apartment homes for families with a range of incomes,” said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. “We are pleased to be a part of this complete revitalization of Mildred Hailey and the overall Jackson Square area with TCB, the BHA, Urban Edge, JPNDC, and all our out city, state, federal and public and private partners.”
Mildred Hailey’s redevelopment is possible because of funding provided by the Boston Housing Authority, City of Boston, EOHED, DHCD, MassHousing, CEDAC, Santander, Raymond James, Dorfman Capital, Chase and Eastern Bank. Consigli will lead construction of the first two buildings with design by PCA Architecture.
“Consigli is committed to delivering projects that support sustained community growth and development, and our team is grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate on this important effort with key partners like The Community Builders, the Wu Administration and the Healey-Driscoll Administration,” said Ryan Jennette, Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Director of Operations – Boston. “We look forward to the successful mixed-use redevelopment of this landmark site in the Jackson Square neighborhood, which will allow residents and families it serves to thrive for years to come.”
About The Community Builders
The Community Builders’ mission is to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive. Our mission-driven businesses work with partners to develop, finance and operate residential communities, neighborhood amenities and opportunity programs for families, seniors and adults with disabilities. Since 1964, we have advanced housing equity through award-winning affordable and mixed-income communities and our pioneering Community Life model for resident success. Today, our ownership and management portfolio include over 14,000 apartment homes. Anchored by offices in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, New York and Washington D.C., we operate across 15 states.
About the Boston Housing Authority
Boston Housing Authority provides quality affordable housing for low-income families and individuals through the public housing and Section 8 rental assistance programs. We foster vital communities that are essential to our city’s economic diversity and way of life. As the largest housing provider in Boston, we bring stability, opportunity, and peace of mind not only to the thousands of low-income families we support, but to the city as a whole. To learn more, visit bostonhousing.org.
About the Department of Housing and Community Development
The Department of Housing and Community Development oversees a diverse portfolio of programming, including affordable housing development, rental assistance programs, the Emergency Assistance Program for eligible homeless families, funding for more than 240 state-aided local housing authorities, and provides tools and funding for municipalities and planning agencies across the state.
About MassHousing
MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $27.5 billion for affordable housing. For more information, visit the MassHousing website at www.masshousing.com, follow us on Twitter @MassHousing, subscribe to our blog, watch us on YouTube and Like us on Facebook.
About Consigli
Consigli Construction Co., Inc. is a leading construction manager in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic servicing clients across all markets, including academic, health care, life sciences, institutional, energy, corporate and federal. Founded in 1905, Consigli is now a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company, providing its people a direct benefit of its success and creating a culture of accountability. The company has offices in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Maine, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina and the Caribbean. Consigli has received numerous awards for its craftsmanship and employment practices, including consistent national recognition as a Forbes Best Employer. For more information, visit consigli.com, follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @Consigli1905.
