Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $227 Million in Awards to Create, Preserve Nearly 2,000 Housing Units

Danvers — Today, Governor Maura Healey and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined local officials and housing developers from across the state to announce the 2024 Affordable Housing Development Grant Awards. A total of $227 million in state and federal tax credits and subsidies will support the creation or preservation of 1,874 rental units across Massachusetts. 

“These awards are one of the most effective tools our administration has to increase the development of housing that is affordable for people across the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Along with our Affordable Homes Act, we’re working to lower the cost of housing across Massachusetts to benefit our families, businesses and economy.”

The projects include a total of 1,731 affordable rental units for residents making less than 60% of area median income (AMI), with 480 units set aside for residents making below 30% AMI and often experiencing homelessness. 

"These funds are an important step for spurring affordable housing development in our communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We want a Massachusetts that’s affordable, accessible and resilient so that everyone can afford to work, live and build their future here.”

This is the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ largest annual grant award that supports the development of affordable rental housing units statewide. The total investment includes, $27.1 million in 4% federal tax credits, $12.1 million in 9% federal tax credits, $44.5 million in state tax credits and $143.4 million in state subsidy funds.

“Today’s awards are critical in creating more affordable and livable communities across Massachusetts,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “I want to thank Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for their leadership on housing and for working incredibly hard to ensure everyone can afford a home, no matter your income. These 27 affordable projects will make our Commonwealth more vibrant, accessible and equitable.”

In addition to analyzing how these projects met the state’s housing goals, the Administration carefully evaluated the green, sustainable and climate resilient aspects of every application to ensure that all projects selected for awards will help further the state’s climate objectives.

Held at the New England Homes for the Deaf in Danvers, Massachusetts, the Administration showcased the new construction Waterhouse project that will serve the disability community. Constructed by WinnDevelopment, the Waterhouse project will receive federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The project will create 116 units, with 93 affordable, including 17 deeply affordable below 30% AMI.  

“Danvers has done more than most communities to stimulate affordable housing development that meets the needs of its residents, but whether these efforts are enough to make housing security a reality for all members of our community remains an open, and vexing, question,” said Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha.  “As such, local officials are lucky to have Governor Healey and her team as a partner, prioritizing housing development as mission critical to the success of the Commonwealth.”

“Today’s award provides a major boost for the housing project proposed by the partnership of New England Homes for the Deaf and Winn Development. Adding low-income housing for Deaf and Deafblind seniors to our campus is in keeping with, and enhances, NEHD’s mission. We are honored to have been selected, we thank Governor Healey and Secretary Augustus, and we are excited to begin work on this important project,” said Stephen Sacco, Chairman, NEHD Board of Trustees.

“The planned expansion of housing at the New England Homes for the Deaf (NEHD) is proof that community officials, property owners, developers and neighbors can work as partners to deliver housing for those who need it – in this case, seniors who are deaf, near-deaf, and/or deaf-blind. We are grateful for the Healey Administration’s support for this project and for its leadership in tackling the state’s housing issues head on,” said WinnDevelopment Executive Vice President Adam Stein.

The projects receiving awards are:

10 Sunnyside Avenue - Arlington

• Nonprofit sponsor is Housing Corporation of Arlington
• Project is new construction family housing in commercial area bordering residential neighborhood
• HLC awards:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with town of Arlington also contributing funds
• Total units: 43 all affordable, including 11 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House design; electric heating/cooling; specialized stretch energy code community

95 Everett – Boston (Allston)

• Sponsor is Pennrose
• New construction mixed-income family project located near Allston Landing
• HLC awards:  federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds
• City of Boston will support project with funds of its own
• Total units: 88; with 73 affordable units; including 18 deeply affordable units below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House certification; electric heating/cooling; net-zero energy; specialized stretch energy code community; transit-oriented

247 Hancock – Boston (Dorchester)

• Sponsor is Arx Urban working with Boston Communities
• Project is new construction mixed-income family housing
• HLC awards:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with city of Boston also providing funds
• Total units: 47, with 35 affordable, including ten deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House design; electric heating; specialized stretch energy code community

4200 Washington Street – Boston (Roslindale)

• Sponsor is Boston Communities
• Project is new construction mixed-income family housing
• HLC awards:  federal and LIHTC and subsidy, with city of Boston also providing funds to project
• Total units: 31, with 27 affordable, including seven deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House design; electric heating/cooling; net-zero energy; specialized stretch energy code community; transit-oriented

Paco East Boston Refinance – Boston (East Boston)

• Sponsor is the nonprofit Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH)
• Project is the rehabilitation/preservation of 111 scattered-site units in 29 East Boston properties
• HLC awards:  subsidy funds, with city of Boston also providing funds to project
• Total units: 111, with 76 affordable, including 22 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Of note: Unless rehabilitated and preserved, some PACO properties may face foreclosure and loss of affordable units as market-rate housing
• Green characteristics:  energy upgrades at all properties

Parcel 25/3 – Boston (Mission Hill)

• Sponsor is the nonprofit Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services
• New construction family project located in Boston; third and final phase of development on Mission Hill site
• HLC awards: federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds
• City of Boston will support project with funds of its own
• Total units: 94 all affordable, including 19 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  electric heating/cooling; specialized stretch energy code community; transit-oriented

Residences at 1471 Blue Hill – Boston (Mattapan)

• Sponsor is Lincoln Avenue Capital
• New construction family project located in Boston
• HLC awards: federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds
• City of Boston will support project with funds of its own
• Total units: 41 all affordable, including 12 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  electric heating/cooling; specialized stretch energy code community

Spring Rock Village - Brewster

• Nonprofit sponsor is Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) working with Housing Assistance Corp. (HAC)
• Project is new construction family housing permitted through Chapter 40B
• HLC awards: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with town of Brewster also providing support
• Total units: 45, with 35 units, including eight deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House; electric heating/cooling; solar-ready; stretch code community

142 Main - Brockton

• Sponsor is Causeway Development (formerly Traggorth Companies)
• Project is the historic adaptive re-use of a downtown property close to city hall as mixed-income multifamily housing and retail
• HLC awards: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with city of Brockton also providing funds
• Total units: 30, with 20 affordable to families, including five deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  all-electric; solar ready; transit-oriented; stretch code community

4 Mellen – Cambridge

• Sponsor is the nonprofit Homeowners Rehab, Inc.
• Project is new construction and adaptive re-use for families located in prime location near Harvard Square in Cambridge
• HLC awards: federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds
• City of Cambridge will support project with substantial funds of its own
• Total units:  29 all affordable; including 12 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House (new construction); electric heating/cooling; specialized stretch energy code community; transit-oriented

Pine Tree Village - Carver

• Sponsor is the nonprofit Pine Tree Village Residents Association, working with the Cooperative Development Institute, an organization that specializes in preserving affordable housing
• Project is a resident-owned family manufactured homes community
• Project will result in preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing
• HLC awards:  subsidy funds
• Total units to be preserved:  185 all affordable, including 93 deeply affordable below 30% AMI

Waterhouse 4%/9% - Danvers

• Sponsor is New England Homes for the Deaf working with WinnDevelopment
• New construction project located in Danvers will serve special populations
• HLC awards: federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds
• Danvers also will support project with funds of its own
• Total units:  116, with 93 affordable, including 17 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House; electric heating/cooling; stretch code community

Treehouse at Easthampton - Easthampton

• Sponsor is Beacon Communities
• Project is the rehabilitation of existing occupied housing to incorporate important characteristics of green design and to extend the original foster care model for several more decades
• HLC awards:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy funds, with city of Easthampton also providing funds
• Total units:  60, with 55 affordable to households, including eight deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  ongoing conversion to electric heat; stretch code community
• Of note: project already has received several million in “green” awards from Commonwealth line agencies

The Putnam - Greenfield

• Nonprofit sponsor is The Community Builders (TCB)
• Adaptive re-use and new construction expansion of existing vacant department store in downtown Greenfield
• HLC awards: federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds
• City of Greenfield also will provide funds of its own
• Total units: 61 all affordable to families, with 13 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House, electric heating/cooling; stretch code community

Marriner Mill 4A – Lawrence

• Sponsor is the nonprofit Lawrence Community Works in partnership with The Community Builders
• Project is historic adaptive reuse as family housing of large-scale vacant mill building in Lawrence
• HLC awards:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy funds
• City of Lawrence also will provide project with funds
• Total units: 72 all affordable, with 16 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Second phase of Marriner likely later this year in another HLC round
• Green characteristics:  solar ready; electric heating/cooling; stretch code community
• Of note: Transit-oriented project with other nearby mill buildings already converted successfully to housing (former Polartec manufacturing site)

La Casa - Lynn

• Nonprofit sponsor is Commonwealth Land Trust
• New construction project for homeless or formerly homeless individuals on urban site
• Sponsor will provide support services
• HLC awards: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy funds
• City of Lynn will provide funds of its own
• Total units: 40 all affordable, including 10 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House design; electric heating/cooling; stretch code community

YWCA at Ingalls Court Phase II - Methuen

• Nonprofit sponsor is YWCA Greater Newburyport
• Second phase of new construction project, designed for seniors (first phase in construction)
• Sponsor will provide support services
• HLC awards: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with city of Methuen also providing funds of its own
• Total units: 48 all affordable, including 16 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House; electric heating/cooling; stretch code community

Casillis Farm - New Marlborough

• Nonprofit sponsor is Construct, Inc.
• Project is the historic adaptive re-use as family housing of two hundred-plus-year-old properties
• HLC support: subsidy funds
• Total units: 11 affordable to families, including three deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Of note: project will provide first restricted affordable housing for families in New Marlborough

Henry T. Wing School Residences II - Sandwich

• Sponsor is SCG Development Partners and CHOICE, Inc.
• Project is second of three senior housing phases involving adaptive re-use of a former school and new construction
• Sponsor will provide support services
• HLC support:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with the town of Sandwich providing additional support
• Total units in Phase II:  41, with 35 units affordable to seniors, including 11 deeply affordable to seniors below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  all-electric; solar array; stretch code community

299 Broadway - Somerville

• Sponsor is Beacon Communities working with RISE Together
• First phase of two-phase new construction project for families
• Redevelopment of a prime parcel in a dense neighborhood as affordable multifamily rental housing
• HLC support: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with city support as well
• Total units: 115 all affordable to families, including 16 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Of note: Adjoining parcel will be developed later as primarily market-rate rental
• Green characteristics:  Passive House certification; all-electric; transit-oriented; specialized energy code community

Bow Linden - Somerville

• Nonprofit sponsor is Somerville Community Corporation
• Necessary rehabilitation of existing family housing near Union Square with long-term extension of affordability restrictions and significant green upgrades
• HLC support:  federal and state LIHTC
• Total units: 60 all affordable units for households, including 18 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  transit-oriented; re-use of existing materials; specialized energy code community

Clarendon Hill Phase II - Somerville

• Non-profit sponsor is Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) working with Somerville Community Corporation
• Project is second phase of multi-phase major redevelopment of Somerville public housing
• Second phase will feature new construction, including townhouses
• HLC awards:  federal LIHTC and subsidy funds; award from HLC’s public housing division
• Other support: over $9 million in city of Somerville funds and a federal earmark
• Total units in phase II:  92 all affordable, including at least 12 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  transit-oriented; specialized energy code community

Northern Heights - Springfield

• Sponsor is WinnDevelopment
• Project is the necessary rehabilitation/recapitalization of five existing occupied buildings
• HLC awards: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy, with city of Springfield also providing support
• Total units to be preserved/rehabilitated:  148 all affordable, including 19 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Energy Star appliances; extra sealing; stretch code community

Village at 801 Main - Wareham

• Sponsor is Village 801 Main Street LLC (John Scanlon)
• Project is an eight-unit expansion (new construction and adaptive re-use) of existing family housing
• HLC awards: subsidy funds, with town of Wareham also providing its own funds
• Total units: eight all affordable, including three deeply affordable at 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  electric heating and cooling; solar ready; stretch code community

Colony on Grove - Worcester

• Sponsor is the nonprofit Colony Retirement Homes working with Affirmative Investments
• Project is new construction replacement of deteriorating two-story walk-up units for seniors
• Accessibility to be added; support services to be provided by sponsor
• HLC support: federal and state LIHTC and subsidy
• City of Worcester support:  subsidy including federal ARPA funds
• Total units: 45 all affordable for seniors, with 13 deeply affordable below 30% of AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House; all-electric; solar ready; specialized stretch energy code community (as of July 2024)

Curtis Apartments - Worcester

• Sponsor is Trinity Financial working with Worcester Housing Authority
• Project is second phase of major redevelopment of public housing; phase two involves demolition and new construction; construction just beginning on phase one
• HLC awards:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy; substantial funds from HLC’s public housing division
• Other support: city of Worcester
• Total units: 150 new units in seven new buildings; 150 units affordable, including 79 deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Green characteristics:  Passive House design; electric heating/cooling; solar ready; specialized stretch energy code community (as of July 2024)

LaGrange Lofts - Worcester

• Sponsor is ReesLarkin working with CIVICO
• Project is the historic adaptive re-use of the former Eagle Mill as family housing
• HLC support:  federal and state LIHTC and subsidy funds, with city of Worcester also providing support
• Total units: 63 units, with 40 affordable to families, with nine deeply affordable below 30% AMI
• Of special note: sponsor will include space for community-based agricultural organization
• Green characteristics:  all-electric; solar ready; transit-oriented; specialized stretch energy code community (as of July 2024)

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