Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Madison Park Development Corporation recently began the last phase of construction on an existing affordable housing complex in Roxbury. The final phase of the Orchard Gardens project will include 20 energy-efficient homes which will be made available to first-time homebuyers. Construction is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.

LOWELL --- Trinity Financial developers recently announced that the first phase of the Hamilton Canal District revitalization project will break ground next month. In the next 18 months, the former Appleton mill buildings will be transformed into 130 artist live/work spaces. The entire Hamilton Canal project is expected to create 350,000 square feet of commercial/office space, up to 50,000 square feet of retail space, a mix of up to 700-800 market-rate and affordable-housing units, 400 new permanent jobs and $4 million in annual tax revenue to the city.

PLYMOUTH --- Despite construction delays due to a lack of tax credit investments, the Cherry Hill II affordable senior housing project is set to move forward in the coming months. The complex will include 35 units of affordable rental housing for seniors.

HAVERHILL --- The city recently celebrated the redevelopment of a former shoe factory into 305 units of rental housing spread across four buildings. The 40R smart growth complex will designate 61 units as affordable. Visit www.hamelmilllofts.com for more information about this development.

SOUTH BOSTON --- The Old Colony public housing development recently received more than $22 million in redevelopment funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Old Colony site is comprised of more than 16 acres, with 873 apartments in 22 three-story, brick walk-up buildings. The "green" redevelopment funding is set to add 150 new units of housing and a new community center in phase one. Construction is expected to begin in late fall of 2010 with a completion date of summer 2012.

BOSTON --- The Boston Redevelopment Authority recently approved two redevelopment projects in South Boston and West Roxbury. The Distillery project consists of the redevelopment of a former rum distillery into 65 residential units, some of which will be artist live-work lofts. The Gordon's Wood project consists of the redevelopment a former nursing home into 42 new homeownership units, with five units designated as affordable. Both projects are expected to begin construction sometime in the next year.