Mayor Menino, Jamaica Plain Community Celebrate $20M Mount Pleasant Home Renovation
September 13, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Thomas M. Menino and residents of Jamaica Plain’s Mount Pleasant Home (MPH) elderly rental housing development today celebrated the progress of building’s $20 million renovation and expansion project with a ceremonial cornerstone laying as part of the housing facility’s 15th Annual Backyard Party, to which the neighborhood was invited. Upon completion, the renovated MPH will serve a mixed-income senior population with 60 single room occupancy units, as well as common area living spaces, and a medical facility staffed by Brigham and Women’s Hospital that will provide services to tenants and the surrounding community.
The three-phase renovation of the century-old Jamaica Plain development, to which the City of Boston contributed approximately $1.75 million, will generate an estimated 120 construction jobs and is expected to be complete in December 2011.
“First, I want to congratulate Mount Pleasant Home for having provided housing stability to our senior citizens for over 100 years – that’s an incredible contribution to our community,” said Mayor Menino. “Now, the substantial renovation of this property will help preserve this development for many more years to come, offering residents convenient access to the services they need in a place are proud to call home.”
Today’s ceremony marked substantial progress of construction on a new 29-unit wing off the existing building and impending renovation of the building’s existing 44 housing units, bringing the facility’s total housing capacity to 60 units. Once complete, 31 units will be available for rent by individuals earning 30% or less of Area Median Income (AMI), with 7 units set-aside for formerly homeless seniors with an income at or below 30% of AMI. The remaining 22 units will be market rate rental units.
Phase III involves the build-out of a medical space in the new wing of the building to be staffed by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which will allow residents to taking advantage of in-house medical services, while providing the neighborhood with a new option for medical care.
In accordance with the City of Boston’s Green Affordable Housing Program, the MPH renovation will utilize several green building and design techniques funded through a $450,000 grant made possible by the Mass. Clean Energy Center (formerly Mass. Technology Collaborative), allowing for the installation of a photovoltaic system to convert solar energy into electricity for the building.
When complete, the development will boast environmentally friendly design features throughout, earning it the distinction of being LEED-Homes “Silver” certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The development will also meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star standards.
Contact:
Lucy Warsh
lwarsh.dnd (at) cityofboston (dot) gov
