Two Developers Pitch Large Affordable Housing Complexes in Between Lower Roxbury & South End

Five city-owned parking lots in Roxbury are slated for redevelopment into affordable housing and rental units, following proposals from two developers.

The Location

The Boston Water Sewer Commission Parking Lots, situated at the corner of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Harrison Avenue, with Reed Street intersecting them, form the focal point for this development, bridging Lower Roxbury and the South End.

Mayor's Initiative

The development initiative stems from Mayor Michelle Wu's comprehensive audit of all city-owned land in 2022, identifying several underutilized or vacant lots with potential for community use, including the BWSC Parking Lots.

Reed Square Proposal

Beacon Communities, Madison Park Development Corporation, and JGE Development jointly proposed "Reed Square" during a recent public meeting. The project comprises 72 affordable homes for ownership, 311 rental units spread across five buildings, and senior-designated housing. Reed Square promises neighborhood service spaces, commercial and retail areas along Harrison Avenue, and green spaces, mirroring the neighborhood's character.

BWSC Parking Lots Disposition

Related Beal with DREAM Development presented an alternative proposal, offering 79 homes, 94 affordable senior rentals, and 229 rental units, slightly surpassing Reed Square's unit count. This proposal designates one parking lot as green space, with four surrounding buildings.

Community Integration

Both proposals emphasize community integration, envisioning Reed Street as a sheltered, neighborly thoroughfare. They also adopt a phased construction approach, prioritizing affordable homeownership units initially, with construction slated to begin in 2025 and new homeowners moving in by 2026, followed by the completion of rental units.

The redevelopment of city-owned parking lots in Roxbury into affordable housing and rental units reflects a concerted effort towards addressing housing needs and revitalizing underutilized spaces, under the administration's strategic vision.