- Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
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Tara Smith, HLC Press Secretary
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $18.7 million in grants to substantially rehabilitate 310 state-aided public housing apartments for older adults and people with disabilities in Andover, Braintree and Salem.
The investments are funded through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ Comprehensive Modernization program, which supports significant renovation projects that extend the useful life of public housing properties by at least 20 years. The program is capitalized through the Affordable Homes Act, which authorized $2 billion in new funding to modernize and improve public housing across Massachusetts.
“This is the Affordable Homes Act at work,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to deliver this funding for badly needed repairs to public housing so that seniors and people with disabilities in Andover, Braintree and Salem can live in safe, modernized and affordable homes for decades to come.”
“Our local housing authorities are on the front lines of keeping older residents safely housed in the communities they love,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants will help fix chronic water damage in Salem, overhaul aging systems and infrastructure in Andover, and make senior housing in Braintree more accessible and energy efficient. We’re proud to partner with local leaders to deliver the improvements residents need and deserve.”
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) received 15 applications from local housing authorities for the 2025 round and is awarding funding to three projects:
- Andover Housing Authority: Frye Circle Elderly Housing — $3 million (96 units)
- Braintree Housing Authority: McCrae Complex — $13 million (104 units)
- Salem Housing Authority: Charter Street Elderly Housing — $2.7 million (110 units)
“The Comprehensive Modification grants are powerful tools to tackle big capital needs in our oldest public housing developments,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “Instead of piecemeal fixes, we’re funding transformative projects that replace failing systems, address water damage and mold, and enhance accessibility and energy efficiency. That means safer, healthier homes for more than 300 older residents and less strain on local housing authorities’ budgets going forward.”
Braintree Housing Authority
“This funding will allow the Andover Housing Authority to make critical improvements at Frye Circle to ensure that the seniors and individuals with disabilities who reside there are provided with healthier living conditions,” said House Second Assistant Majority Leader Frank A. Moran. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary Augustus have been valuable partners to the Merrimack Valley. I appreciate their ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life within our community and the Commonwealth at-large through statewide initiatives such as this.”
"I am pleased that the Salem Housing Authority has been awarded this transformative grant funding for Charter Street Elderly Housing, allowing for substantial upgrades to an aging building so our seniors can live comfortably for years to come," said Senator Joan Lovely. "Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for making these critical funds available to our local housing authorities to improve the health and safety of residents."
Salem Housing Authority
"Ensuring the sustainability and quality of housing managed by the Braintree Housing Authority is critical. This grant allows for crucial upgrades to the McCrae Complex, ensuring that important infrastructure like walkways, water mains, heating, and utilities are upgraded. It will also be used to make individual units safer by installing such items as walk-in showers. I am gratified to see the financial incentives my colleagues and I advocate for and support in the budget make it back into the district, particularly in instances where vulnerable populations are supported," said Senator John Keenan.
“I am grateful to see this significant state investment in Frye Circle, which will help ensure that older adults and residents with disabilities in Andover have safe, healthy, and dignified housing,” said Representative Tram Nguyen. This funding will allow the Andover Housing Authority to make long-overdue upgrades that strengthen the development’s resiliency and improve quality of life for those who call it home.”
“This $13 million investment into the McCrae Complex on Hayward Street represents a strong commitment to preserving high-quality, safe and accessible housing for older adults in Braintree. With outdated finishes that are decades old, limited accessibility and aging infrastructure, this funding will deliver long overdue upgrades including modern kitchens and bathrooms, safer walkways, energy-efficient heating systems and fully renovated community spaces. I am proud to support this project and want to thank Governor Healey and Secretary Agustus for their work to assist Braintree Housing Authority in preserving and modernizing this complex and housing throughout the state," said Chair Mark Cusack.
Project Highlights
Andover Housing Authority — Frye Circle Elderly Housing — $3 million
Built in 1975, Frye Circle is a 96-unit housing development for older adults and people with disabilities. The development’s outdated ventilation and mechanical systems contribute to significant plumbing failures, water damage and mold. With this award, the Andover Housing Authority will undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation that replaces deteriorated plumbing infrastructure, upgrades HVAC and ventilation systems, and makes structural repairs to address long-term water damage and improve building resiliency.
Braintree Housing Authority — McCrae Complex — $13 million
The McCrae Complex includes 13 two-story buildings with 104 one-bedroom apartments for older adults. Many kitchen and bathroom finishes are original to the early 1970s, common areas need upgrades, and site conditions such as walkways and water mains require major work. The Comprehensive Modification grant will support a full renovation of all units and the community building, including new kitchens and baths, replacement of aging flooring and finishes, accessibility upgrades like walk-in showers and additional ramps so all first-floor units are visitable, installation of high-efficiency air source heat pumps, and repairs to walkways and underground utilities.
Salem Housing Authority — Charter Street Elderly Housing — $2.7 million
Salem’s Charter Street older adult housing development, a 12-story masonry building constructed in 1974, has battled chronic water infiltration for decades, resulting in interior water damage, mold and repeated repairs to the building envelope, windows and roofs. The Comprehensive Modification funding will be used for flood mitigation and building envelope improvements recommended by engineering studies, including repairs to masonry, flashing, roofing and windows, as well as significant mold remediation to protect residents’ health and safety.
About the Comprehensive Modernization Program
Comprehensive Modification is a competitive grant program that preserves and modernizes state-aided public housing developments through large-scale, one-time investments in substantial rehabilitation. For the 2025 round, applications were evaluated on the condition of the development and overall capital needs, the scope and impact of the proposed project, sustainability and climate resilience, and the management capacity of the local housing authority.
The commonwealth’s state-aided public housing portfolio includes approximately 43,000 homes that house more than 70,000 residents. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is using Affordable Homes Act resources to accelerate long-term investments that improve building safety, energy performance and resident quality of life in public housing communities statewide.
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