- Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
WORCESTER — Yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined the Worcester Housing Authority, city officials and Trinity Financial to celebrate the redevelopment of a 372-unit public housing complex into modern living spaces.
Part of the Worcester Housing Authority’s state-funded public housing, Curtis Apartments consists of 372 units of public housing that were built in the early 1950s to provide homes for returning veterans and their families. The redevelopment project consists of demolishing and replacing the buildings with 529 new apartments that will include a mix of income restrictions. The new development will include 53 fully accessible units.
Officials yesterday celebrated the commencement of phase one of the project, which will take place over four phases. Phase one is expected to be finished by February 2025 with the entire project completed by 2032. The new apartments will include the latest in energy efficient and climate resilient construction to serve current residents and welcome new residents far into the future. The redevelopment will also include easy access to public transit, more greenspace and safe pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Public housing residents deserve well-maintained living spaces with access to the transportation and other services they need to succeed,” said Governor Healey. “For far too long, our aging public housing has been neglected. With proper investment and a focus on building more livable communities, we can lift up not only those in public housing, but all of our communities at large.”
Massachusetts has more than 43,000 units of housing in its state-managed public housing system with over 70,000 residents living in those public housing buildings. The Affordable Homes Act filed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration last fall includes historic funding increases to public housing. Included in the bill’s $4 billion in spending and 28 policy changes, the Affordable Homes Act authorizes $1.6 billion to rehabilitate the state’s public housing.
“Through projects like the Curtis Apartments, we’re building stronger communities where people can raise their families in beautiful and safe neighborhoods and where older residents can enjoy stability and comfort,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll.
Curtis Apartments is the second-oldest property at the Worcester Housing Authority. Built in the early 1950s, the complex includes multiple outdated concrete and masonry buildings which have outlived their usefulness. The are no dedicated green spaces, no elevators and no sprinklers.
"The revitalization of Curtis Apartments marks a significant step in improving the lives of those living in our public housing and providing them with a rejuvenated neighborhood that will be accessible and energy-efficient," said Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. "The collaboration between the city, Worcester Housing Authority and Trinity Financial is a model for transforming living spaces and meeting crucial housing needs.
The Worcester Housing Authority Board of Commissioners selected Trinity Financial as the developer for the Curtis Apartments project. Trinity also developed the old Worcester County Courthouse into the residential living space Courthouse Lofts, which offers apartments to a variety of income levels.
“The redevelopment of Curtis Apartments algins perfectly with the Governor’s housing strategy and could not be done without the support of the Healey Administration and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities,” said WHA CEO Alex Corrales. “This is exactly the type of project that would be supported under the Administration’s Affordable Housing Act and we encourage the passage of that bill to support the development of even more affordable housing, of which there is a dire need in Worcester and all of Massachusetts.”
The total cost of the development is estimated at $360 million. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is supporting the project with $13.6 million in state low-income tax credits, $10 million in subsidies, $5 million from the Public Housing Innovations Program as well as $2.2 million from the Moving to Work Fund.
"Trinity Financial is thrilled to partner with the Worcester Housing Authority in the revitalization of Curtis Apartments. This project will create a new neighborhood, providing affordable housing for families across a wide range of incomes in comfortable, sustainable, and attractive new buildings," said Vice President of Development Michael Lozano. "The new Curtis would not be possible without the incredible support of Governor Healey and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. We are proud to collaborate on projects that advance the Governor’s affordable housing initiatives, finding creative ways to increase housing options in Worcester and across the Commonwealth."
Yesterday’s announcement was part of the administration’s statewide Housing Campaign to call attention to the urgent need to lower housing costs throughout Massachusetts. Events last week included highlighting the MBTA’s efforts to support transit-oriented development and celebrating our community developers. Prior events focused on identifying housing solutions with the business industry, ending veteran homelessness, the impact of housing on health care, the importance of investing in the state’s public housing and the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s partnership with cities and towns to find housing solutions.
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