BOSTON - Wednesday, June 24, 2026 - Mayor Michelle Wu today joined the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), The Community Builders (TCB), the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED), MassHousing, and the Mildred C. Hailey Tenant Organization to celebrate the completion of phase one of Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain, creating 223 new units of housing at 2 and 6 Lamartine Street for Boston residents. This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s efforts to create more housing across Boston neighborhoods, deliver much-needed improvements to the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, expand workforce development opportunities for residents and improve quality of life for families.

“Boston is taking every step to create more housing while expanding workforce opportunities for residents, and the Mildred C. Hailey project shows how we can do both through thoughtful redevelopment,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we continue to invest in new homes and reconnect this neighborhood, we’re also investing in the supports that help residents move forward—with training and access to good jobs—so that this progress leads to lasting financial stability for families.”

In addition to creating housing, the first phase of the redevelopment of Mildred C. Hailey also creates a new community center named in honor of Anna Mae Cole, a transformational tenant leader who dedicated her life to empowering residents in the Mildred C. Hailey community. The redevelopment also ensures residents have access to a new ground-floor commercial space and the creation of Lamartine Street will increase neighborhood connectivity and smoother travel for residents, families and visitors. The two modern, sustainable buildings delivered through this project provide 91 deeply affordable units and 132 units of affordable and moderate income housing.   

“Today’s ribbon cutting marks the completion of 223 new homes for Boston residents,” said BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok. “And at the Boston Housing Authority, we know that building strong communities means investing not only in buildings but in people. This $3.95 million in workforce development funding from HUD and the Cummings Foundation is going to transform the trajectory of residents’ lives, ensuring that alongside stable housing, they have stable, good-paying, and rewarding careers. Together, these investments in housing and economic mobility will create lasting benefits for generations of Bostonians.”

Mayor Wu also announced two important investments from city and federal sources to support workforce development for low-income residents citywide. With a $250,000 investment from the Cummings Foundation, the City is creating a new site for workforce training of proven-risk young adults at Mildred C. Hailey, with programming open to all eligible Boston residents. In addition, the City has also received $3.7 million through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Jobs Plus Initiative, which aims to connect public housing residents with employment, education and financial empowerment services. The investment will create three additional sites for workforce training and career coaching at the BHA’s Ruth Barkley, Alice Taylor, and Franklin Field communities.

“Cummings Foundation is delighted to support the Opportunity Hub, which will bring proven adult education, workforce training, and career support directly to the Mildred C. Hailey community,” said Joyce Vyriotes, executive director of Cummings Foundation. “This initiative reflects the kind of practical, community-based investment that can help residents build skills, access opportunity, and move toward safer, more stable futures.”

The partners for this initiative include the BHA, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD), ABCD, Private Industry Council (PIC), Best Hospitality Training, Lisc Massachusetts, Building Pathways, New England Culinary Arts Training, PowerCorps, EMPath, Roxbury Community College, Santander Bank, Boston Medical Center, Whittier Street Health Center, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and Greater Boston Legal Services.

“This investment comes at the perfect time, as the Office of Violence Prevention and Boston Housing Authority continue to fund strategic new ways to work together. This brings resources directly to youth and young adults who deserve to see these types of investments in their immediate neighborhoods. Moreover, this is also an investment in Boston’s Live Long and Well population health equity agenda that aims to improve life expectancy and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities and also our long-term Plan to End Violence,” said Isaac Yablo, Senior Advisor for Community Safety and Director of Boston Public Health Commission’s Office of Violence Prevention. 

Together, the $3.95 million in awarded funding will connect residents with workforce development training, individual career counseling, and case management. This will allow students to build job readiness, identify and secure employment, and be successful in the workplace. This funding builds on the City’s ongoing efforts led by the City’s Worker Empowerment Cabinet to expand workforce development opportunities and ensure residents across neighborhoods are connected to resources.

“Today’s ribbon cutting at 2 and 6 Lamartine marks far more than the completion of new buildings, it represents a meaningful reinvestment in a community with a proud history and a strong future,” said Andy Waxman, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development for TCB. “Through deep partnership and resident leadership, we’ve created 223 modern, energy-efficient homes while ensuring that longtime residents can remain and thrive. With the reopening of the Anna Mae Cole Center and new spaces for connection and opportunity, this milestone reflects our shared commitment to building a more inclusive and connected Boston.”

"Creating more housing and expanding economic opportunity are essential to Massachusetts' long-term success," said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. "The Commonwealth is proud to have invested in the Mildred C. Hailey redevelopment to support new affordable and workforce housing, community improvements, and workforce development opportunities. This project demonstrates the impact of strong partnerships in creating opportunity for residents and strengthening communities."

“MassHousing is pleased to be part of this transformative redevelopment of the Mildred Hailey Apartments and is excited for the residents who now have quality, affordable rental homes,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay.

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