BOSTON – November 7, 2024 – MassHousing and the City of Boston today announced the closing of financing to Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC) for the consolidation and renovation of two Boston affordable housing communities.
The 91-unit Columbia Uphams Apartments involves the combining of the 46-unit Columbia West Apartments and the 45-unit Uphams Corner Market, which are located approximately 0.7 miles apart on Columbia Road in Dorchester. AHSC, which took ownership of the properties in 2019 and 2020, plans more than $19 million in property improvements to the newly constituted housing community that houses formerly homeless, developmentally disabled, and lower-income residents.
"The City is proud to support this important project in Upham's Corner, ensuring that these housing developments continue to serve Boston’s residents today and for decades to come," said Sheila A. Dillon, Boston's Chief of Housing. "The City's investment will fund the renovation of 91 homes, bringing substantial improvements to health and safety systems while preserving affordable housing for low-income residents. These updates will enhance the living environments for families, older adults, and individuals who have experienced homelessness."
"MassHousing is pleased to be a partner in consolidating and renovating these two important sources of affordable housing in Dorchester," said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. "The residents of Columbia Uphams Apartments will soon have newly rehabilitated apartment homes that will provide them housing stability and the opportunity to thrive."
"I am sincerely grateful to MassHousing, the City of Boston and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for their support of AHSC and our partner, Peabody Properties' long-term efforts to financially and physically reposition these communities, which will preserve 91 units of affordable housing for families in Dorchester," said AHSC Executive Director Michael J. Mattos.
MassHousing is providing $3.9 million in permanent financing, $20 million in construction financing, and $1.1 million in subordinate financing. Boston is providing $885,818 in Neighborhood Housing Trust financing.
Additional funding includes $20.3 million in federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing allocated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), $4.5 million in direct support from EOHLC, $3.8 million in Historic Tax Credit financing, $4.6 million in seller financing, $2 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which MassHousing manages on behalf of EOHLC, and a $173,527 sponsor loan. The tax credit investor is Boston Financial Investment Management, LP.
The former Columbia West Apartments are contained in a four-story wood-frame building completed in 2005. The former Uphams Corner Market is contained in a historic four-story masonry building completed in 1926. The ground floor and basement have unaffiliated commercial spaces occupied by a law firm, a youth leadership organization, and a furniture and appliance store.
The combined housing offers a wide range of retail and institutional uses along with MBTA bus service to the JFK/UMass station on the Red Line and Commuter Rail. Commuter Rail service is also less than a mile away at the Uphams Corner Commuter Rail station on the Fairmount Line.
Among the planned property improvements are the overall performance of the building envelopes by replacing windows and doors, installing new roofs and roof insulation, new HVAC systems, Energy Star-rated appliances, low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets, LED lighting, and a new security system at both properties. Other improvements include new kitchen and bathroom cabinets, countertops and flooring, elevator modernization, and brick repointing at Uphams Corner Market.
All 91 units will be subject to income restrictions ranging from 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) to 60 percent of AMI. Twenty-three units will benefit from project-based rental assistance, of which 14 will have a Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contract with the Boston Housing Authority, eight will benefit from Massachusetts Rental Voucher Programs vouchers, and one will receive rental assistance and 24-hour tenant services through HUD’s Continuum of Care program for homeless individuals and families.
There are 14 studio apartments, 20 one-bedroom apartments, 49 two-bedroom apartments, seven three-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment.
The general contractor will be NEI General Contracting. The architect is The Architectural Team, and the management agent is Peabody Properties.
About Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc.
Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2001. Its mission is to provide and preserve affordable housing for low-income families, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, as well as special populations. Fulfilling their mission is a collaborative effort and process that includes working with private and public partners to seek project financing, grant funding and other leveraged resources to acquire, develop, rehabilitate and create affordable housing opportunities, as well as to enhance and expand quality of life initiatives through funding wellness, educational, vocational, and social programming. AHSC has been involved in many complex affordable housing developments involving new construction, as well as historic and occupied rehabilitation. Through their involvement in more than 20 projects in various roles they have kept approximately 1,300 units affordable. For more information about AHSC please visit www.ahscinc.org.
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 approximately $29 billion for affordable housing. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the Mayor’s Office of Housing
The Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH) works with partners to create and preserve affordable housing and prevent displacement, while supporting at-risk residents with housing stabilization services. MOH leads Continuum of Care services for Boston, connecting unsheltered individuals and those struggling with substance abuse disorder to housing and care. Through the Boston Home Center, MOH provides funding and technical assistance to boost homeownership opportunities for BIPOC and lower-income residents and supports critical repairs to make Boston’s housing stock climate-ready and fossil fuel free. As stewards of tax-foreclosed land and buildings, MOH works with Boston’s residents to create and preserve urban agriculture and open space. For more information, please visit the MOH website.
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