New to the Neighborhood: Grace Apartments Grand Opening

New transit-oriented development created 42 units of affordable supportive housing for older Bostonians

BOSTON – Thursday, July 25, 2024 – Today, Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon, the East Boston Community Development Corporation, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Affirmative Investments, and MassHousing, announced the grand opening of the Grace Apartments on Sumner Street in East Boston, adjacent to the Maverick MBTA Station. The development adds 42 transit-oriented, affordable, supportive housing units for older Boston residents.

“We are excited to celebrate the Grand Opening of Grace Apartments, which has created new affordable housing opportunities for Boston’s older adults,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Our housing plan is committed to increasing the number of housing units available to older Bostonians, empowering them to stay in the city they love. I want to thank the East Boston CDC, Affirmative Investments, and everyone involved in making this housing possible. This beautiful new building will positively impact the lives of our residents who now call East Boston home for years to come.”

The construction of Grace Apartments resulted in a 39,067-square-foot, seven-story building on a previously vacant lot owned by East Boston Community Development Corporation (EBCDC). Grace Apartments in Maverick Square includes a combination of one- and two-bedroom units that are affordable to residents making up to 60% of area median income. It also includes five units set aside to house formerly homeless individuals. The new housing development serves individuals aged 55 or older and includes wellness services.

“Today, with the East Boston community, we celebrate the opening of Grace Apartments, a new home for our older adults,” said Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon. “This development ensures that our seniors can remain in the city they helped build. Grace Apartments provides affordable, healthy homes with essential support services, allowing our residents to age in place. This project underscores Mayor Wu’s dedication to creating vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods that everyone can call home.”

“Older Massachusetts residents have been among those most severely impacted by rising housing costs,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. “Grace Apartments provides vital affordable living as well as the supportive services many people need as they age. That, along with access to public transportation, can make a tremendous difference in their lives and allow them to stay comfortably in the community they call home. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is proud to work with the city and our partners to support this project through state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.”

Grace Apartments was designed to the highest universal design standards to accommodate older adults of all abilities. Grace Apartments includes energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, Energy Star-rated appliances and has environmentally friendly design features throughout.  The building is LEED Silver certified and meets EnergyStar standards.

“Seventeen senior residents from the abutting, functionally obsolete Woodbury Apartments have transferred to Grace Apartments where they will be able to age in place gracefully, without the mobility impediments they faced at the Woodbury Apartments”, said the EBCDC President and Executive Director Salvatore J Colombo. “The Woodbury Apartments were completed in 1977 and weren’t constructed to help older residents age in place.”

“It’s difficult to receive proper and effective preventive care and treatment for chronic

conditions without a safe, stable place to live, especially for older adults who are often living on limited fixed incomes,” said Jason Tompkins, President, Northeast Region for Aetna, a CVS Health company. “With access to affordable housing that provides stability and valuable resources, older adults can be better positioned to manage their health care needs and lead fuller, healthier lives.”

The development was made possible through contributions from the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Neighborhood Housing Trust, The Community Preservation Act Fund, Federal and State LIHTC awards from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and MassHousing, and land from the East Boston CDC.

“Congratulations to the seniors who now call the Grace Apartments home, and who will be able to live there affordably for many years to come,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. “MassHousing is pleased to be part of this project with East Boston CDC, the City of Boston and our public and private partners, that resulted in 42 brand-new apartment homes for lower-income elderly residents in the heart of East Boston.”

The construction of Grace Apartments aligns with the Mayor’s commitment to producing affordable housing for older residents. Under the leadership of the Wu Administration, the Mayor’s Office of Housing has made significant progress in addressing the housing needs of older Bostonians, with a total of 373 homes either completed or beginning construction in 2024. These projects highlight the city’s dedication to creating inclusive communities where residents of all backgrounds can thrive. Among the completed or nearing completion projects are 43 homes at 9 Leland Street in Dorchester, 42 homes at Grace Apartments in East Boston, and 74 homes at The Pryde in Hyde Park. Furthermore, several groundbreakings for residences for older Boston residents occurred or will occur this year, including 63 homes at 1201 River Street in Hyde Park, 30 homes at 150 River Street in Mattapan, 39 homes at 3371 Washington Street in Jamaica Plain, 48 homes at Cheney Street in Roxbury, and 36 homes at Hamilton and Mt. Everett in Dorchester. These developments support the City of Boston’s commitment to expanding affordable housing opportunities for older residents.

About the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH)

The Mayor’s Office of Housing is responsible for housing people experiencing homelessness, creating and preserving affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can obtain, maintain, and remain in safe, stable housing. The department develops and implements the City of Boston’s housing creation and homelessness prevention plans and collaborates with local and national partners to find new solutions and build more housing affordable to all, particularly those with lower incomes. For more information, please visit the MOH website.

About the Community Preservation Act (CPA)

After Boston voters adopted the CPA in November 2016, the City created a Community Preservation Fund, primarily funded by a 1% property tax surcharge on residential and business properties starting in July 2017. This revenue supports affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and public recreation projects, aligned with statewide CPA guidelines. Projects require a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and City appropriation. For more information, visit the Community Preservation webpage.

About the East Boston Community Development Corporation (EBCDC)

The East Boston Community Development Corporation is a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of low-income East Boston residents. It has developed or co-developed over 1,000 subsidized housing units and manages 700 subsidized apartments. EBCDC, originating from the East Boston Neighborhood Council and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, operates from its headquarters at 72 Marginal Street, East Boston.