The Old Colony development is the largest housing development in the Boston Housing Authority’s portfolio, comprised of over 16 acres of 32 three-story brick walk-up buildings containing 845 units of housing that are instantly recognizable as institutional, deteriorated public housing. In December 2009, Beacon Communities was selected as the developer for the redevelopment of Phase One, which will involve the demolition of 7 buildings (164 apartments) and the construction of 116 apartments and an approximately 10,000 square foot community center on an approximately 3.4-acre site.

Built in 1940, the development is home to residents whose incomes are mostly between 0-30% of AMI–meaning this community is serving individuals and families that might otherwise be homeless. In addition to the myriad issues we faced with the physical buildings, the community also lacked sufficient parking, useable, defensible common space and thoughtful physical or social connection to the neighborhood, jobs and services.

The timeline for funding and permitting the first phase of Old Colony’s redevelopment was one of the initial challenges the Beacon team faced. In order to secure ARRA funding that had been allotted for the redevelopment, Beacon, who was selected in December 2009, had to mobilize every resource to meet the seemingly impossible deadline of a full financial closing by September 18, 2010.

Beacon brought together a team of highly experienced professionals who, with the full support of the Boston Housing Authority and the City of Boston, worked together to meet the aggressive time frame.

Beacon has designed the Phase One portion of the site in accordance with the Enterprise Green Building Criteria, the U. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) Rating system, EPA’s Energy Star and HUD’s Healthy Homes Guidelines. This includes the use of photovoltaic panels, and best practices for producing building envelopes that are able to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter without using an enormous amount of energy.

This community is in construction; completion is expected in the 1st Quarter, 2012.