$20M Transformation Provides New Rental Housing for Families in Dorchester
August 10, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) Director Evelyn Friedman today joined the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC), the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), and community members to celebrate the grand opening of Dudley Village Homes in Dorchester. In total, the project brings 50 much-needed affordable rental units for low-income residents in the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) core area. Mayor Menino said this five-building $20 million transformation of Dudley Street was made possible in part by a DND contribution of more than $2 million, and is subject to a 99-year land lease agreement with DSNI.
“Today we celebrate because we have transformed these parcels into homes for our residents,” said Mayor Menino. “By working together we have given families a beautiful place to call home. That’s something we all can be proud of.”
A one-time important cultural institution for Boston’s Cape Verdean community, the Fundonzinho Lounge was located on this parcel had become an area of criminal activity in the late 1990’s. DBEDC, which owned the adjoining 147-unit apartment complex, decided that they wanted to buy the parcel and redevelop it.
In 2006, after extensive planning and community input, DBEDC demolished the building and started the redevelopment of the parcels. The construction of Dudley Village Homes was done in two phases: Dudley Village North that produced 24 units of affordable rental housing, and Dudley Village South that produced 26 units of affordable rental housing. Completed, Dudley Village Homes features 50-units of new sustainable affordable rental development with 9,600 square feet of retail space located in five separate buildings with a mix of 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom new affordable rental units, serving households at or below 60% of Area Median Income.
In order for DBEDC to qualify for DND funding, the project needed to meet the LEED Silver Standard and the Energy Star Standard. To make sure that the project met these standards was environmentally friendly, and contained open space with play areas, DBEDC worked closely with the Department of Neighborhood Development; the landowner, DSNI; the project architect, Narrow Gate; the playground builder, Kaboom; and the General Contractor, Vertec Corporation.
In October of 2008, Prologis, a manager and developer of distribution facilities, approached DND with an offer to donate the $20,000 to design and install a solar photovoltaic system on an affordable housing development. DND, BRA, and Mayor’s Office staff identified Dudley Village as an ideal recipient for this donation.
DBEDC also worked with NexAmp to design and install 7.98-kilowatt solar photovoltaic panels and a monitoring system on the roof of Dudley Village North that supplies solar energy to the development’s common areas. This system was funded in part by a $20,000 grant from DND that came from the Mass. Technology Collaborative (MTC), and the $20,000 donation from Prologis. Dudley Village also received $27,930 in clean energy rebates offered through MTC to cover the total cost of $67,930.
Currently, residents of the Dudley Village Homes benefit from beautiful kitchens and baths, central air, off-street parking, an on-site laundry facility, a large community room, a large play structure surrounded by green space. All of the common areas including the large community room and laundry facility are solar powered.
Contact: Lucy Warsh, lwarsh.dnd (at) cityofboston (dot) gov
