BOSTON, MA -– Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), and HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman joined Preservation of Affordable Housing, residents, and partners to celebrate the completion of affordable family housing at the former Whittier Street Apartments in Lower Roxbury Thursday and broke ground on the final phase of the development.

Flat 9 at Whittier is a collaboration between Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), the City of Boston, and Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) to redevelop, preserve and transform the Whittier Street Apartments public housing community in Roxbury. POAH is the lead for the on-site redevelopment component, which involved the creation of a mixed-income, mixed-use community of 316 apartments along with substantial new commercial space.

“The Flat 9 at Whittier is a great example of what is possible when we use every possible resource and partner across sectors to make Boston a City for everyone.” Mayor Michelle Wu said, “I'm grateful to all of our partners for their leadership and look forward to accelerating our efforts for affordability across our neighborhoods.”

Originally built in the early 1950s, the Whittier Street Apartments were home to 200 public housing families. Building on the rich heritage of this vibrant neighborhood, the new development, Flat 9 at Whittier, creates 200 brand new equally affordable replacement units, as well as a livable site with outdoor play spaces, a mix of building types to accommodate diverse family needs, and new streets to re-integrate the site into the broader neighborhood, and additional new mixed-income and market housing on-site and in the nearby neighborhood.

Overall, Flat 9 at Whittier includes a diverse mix of public housing units representing a one-for-one replacement of the former Whittier apartments, low and moderate-income apartments, and market-rate units.  Directly across from the Orange Line Ruggles Station, Phase 3 will create 172 affordable and market-rate residences in a 13-story high-rise building along with 10,000 square feet of commercial space intended for neighborhood businesses.

“Safe, healthy, and affordable housing is a fundamental human right, and critical projects like the Flat 9 at Whittier will go a long way towards affirming that right for communities in Boston and all across the Massachusetts 7th,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “I was proud to celebrate this important milestone for Flat 9, which will help us meet our housing goals while empowering residents with a sense of belonging, protecting their dignity, and affirming their place in our community. I am grateful to our state and local partners, housing advocates, and residents who understood the assignment and have worked so closely to make today a reality.”

Residents and community stakeholders were involved in the planning of the redevelopment, which began in 2013.  As a result, the overall plan reflects community needs, such as   community spaces, public art, bike lanes, and a pedestrian-friendly design.

“The Whittier Choice Neighborhood Program has shown us what public housing redevelopment should look like” BHA Administrator Kate Bennett said. “This incredible partnership has secured Whittier’s legacy, and built a thriving future for hundreds of low-income families here in Roxbury. We are excited to see this final phase of construction move forward.”

In 2016, the BHA was awarded a $30 million federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant by the Obama Administration to support housing development, resident support services and the surrounding neighborhood. As part of the Neighborhood and People goals for the grant, POAH established a partnership with community partners, including Madison Park Regional Technical Vocational High School.

“The Flat 9 at Whittier project is an example of how federal, state and local government can work with private and non-profit partners to build and preserve affordable housing and, very importantly, invest in people and communities,” said Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided the initial Choice Neighborhood grant funding that supports this locally-driven initiative, and I am pleased to be here to celebrate this thriving community and the people who will live here.”

Phase 3 will include community space, roof decks, fitness, and other shared community amenities, and landscaped outdoor space. Phase 3 will implement transit-oriented amenities, such as creating an additional new public street, Tenor Lane, parallel to Choice Way which was created as part of Phase 1, and establish more connectivity for the residents throughout the site and the surrounding neighborhood. The site is also accessible to Blue Bikes.

“The Whittier Choice initiative has transformed an entire neighborhood and MassHousing is excited to celebrate the completion of Flat Nine at Whittier Phase 2 and breaking ground for the third and final phase of this major redevelopment project for the residents of Roxbury,” said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay.

Phase one of the redevelopment was completed in January 2020, with 92 units offering 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, along with amenities such as a community lounge and a playground. Phase two was completed in December 2021, with 52 units offering 1-,3-and 4-bedroom apartments and shared community spaces.

Flat 9 at Whittier is one of the pilot sites for POAH’s Resilient Communities Project which uses human-centered design to create a more effective and equitable model for affordable housing with increased benefits for all stakeholders including staff well-being and retention, enhanced residence experience, and improved property performance. 

“Today’s ribbon cutting and groundbreaking are yet more milestones in the development of this very special community in the heart of Lower Roxbury,” said Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of POAH. “Years of resident-centered planning and involvement and the support of many partners have created this award-winning, sustainable community.”

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