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Urban Edge Completes Funding for 65 New Affordable Apartment Homes on Columbus Ave

October 24, 2022
1599 Columbus Avenue, Boston MA

BOSTON — MassHousing, the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Urban Edge, announced the completion of financing for the 65-unit, 1599 Columbus Avenue in Boston, which is part of Jackson Square Redevelopment. All 65 units in the new building will be affordable to lower-income residents.

“I am so pleased that the City of Boston is able to support the construction of this new transit-oriented, income-restricted housing as a commitment to the continuing revitalization of Jackson Square,” said Boston’s Chief of Housing, Sheila Dillon. “I want to thank Urban Edge, MassHousing, and all our partners for their work to revitalize Jackson Square, and create 65 units of housing that will further build a vital and vibrant neighborhood.”

“The Commonwealth is proud to advance Urban Edge’s plans to create 65 new units of affordable housing in Boston’s Jackson Square,” relays Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “As we continue working to address Massachusetts’ housing shortage, every unit counts in delivering a safe, quality, and affordable home for our residents.”

A total of 22 apartments will be restricted to households earning up to 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), including eight units supported by federal Section 8 subsidies and eight units supported through the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. The remaining 43 apartments will be restricted to households earning up to 60 percent of AMI. The AMI for Boston is $140,200 for a household of four. 

“The development of 1599 Columbus Avenue is another exciting milestone in the community-driven redevelopment of Jackson Square, and MassHousing is excited to join our public and private sector partners in helping bring this project to life,” added MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. “We congratulate Urban Edge for its work to fulfill the community’s vision for a lively and inclusive Jackson Square.”

1599 Columbus marks a major milestone in the revitalization of Jackson Square. The 65-unit development broke ground in September and will provide affordable housing at a variety of income levels. 1599 Columbus is part of the ongoing redevelopment of Jackson Square, a process that brings an influx of affordable housing and economic opportunities to the neighborhood and its residents. Over the past 12 years, the Jackson Square Redevelopment has created 487 mixed-income, transit-oriented rental homes while transforming the neighborhood into a vibrant and walkable community.

“The story of Jackson Square is a genuine ‘place-making’ triumph. Our mission every day is to develop stable and thriving communities: vibrant places that are welcoming and nurturing for those who live and work there,” said Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge. “We are happy to be bringing more affordable housing and new economic opportunities - with 1599 Columbus Avenue - that will further enhance this wonderful neighborhood.”

1599 Columbus Avenue will combine five formerly underutilized parcels at Columbus Avenue and Amory Street in Boston, and construct a new, six-story building with 20 one-bedroom apartments, 36 two-bedroom apartments, and nine three-bedroom apartments, with 3,200 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The building is being built to Passive House design standards.

The new affordable housing is being delivered through a broad array of financing sources including, MassHousing, DHCD, the City of Boston, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC), Silicon Valley Bank, Eastern Bank, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), and equity financing from the sale of state and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs).