The Phase one of the Washington-Beech public housing scheme includes 100 new units which will be occupied soon. Construction of the first phase began in May 2009.
The owner of the site, Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and developer, Trinity Financial, will demolish the existing 266 units and replace them with 206 onsite and 136 offsite affordable housing units.
The new site design reduces density and helps it to blend with the surrounding neighborhood. The site will get a variety of unit types to replace the existing institutional walk-ups including a mid-rise elevator building, small garden apartments, duplexes and townhouses. A central green space will be featured offering play facilities and park benches for young children and adults.
All the residential units will be constructed adhering to green principles and to exceed Energy Star standards. The complex will be equipped with high-efficiency condensing boilers for heating and hot water; demand control ventilation for all common areas; Energy Star rated lighting with occupancy control sensors; ultra low flow toilets; and light stat thermostats for night setbacks. The Washington Beech redevelopment is designed to attain LEED-Gold certification.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) Board gave the go-ahead for the second phase of the Washington-Beech project. Phase two also consists of the demolition of 10 existing buildings and the construction of 106 townhouse-style residential rental units and 145 parking spaces, in addition to a new park, streetscape improvements, and pedestrian pathways. Phase two construction is expected to begin in September 2010 and will be completed by July 2012.
The development is being rebuilt through a public/private partnership using federal HOPE VI and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Washington Beech residents were given relocation assistance and a variety of choices regarding their relocation.
