We are pleased to announce that construction just began at 40-42 Ashford Street in Allston! This project will be a Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) and will prioritize the health and wellbeing of the 12 residents who call this building home.
The Ashford Street property was originally built in 1899. This Victorian-style single family home on Ashford Street in Allston has been converted into 12 units of housing. The property was purchased by ABCDC in 1992 and originally opened to house individuals impacted by the AIDS crisis. ABCDC now utilizes the property to provide safe, permanent, and deeply affordable housing to a range of people, including persons with disabilities and formerly unhoused individuals.
In recognition of the vulnerable population of residents that currently reside at the Ashford Street property, ABCDC collaborates with Maloney Properties and Vinfen to connect residents with comprehensive supportive services. Our supportive housing model is designed to provide on-site support to residents including mental health, employment, and tenancy support.
“The entire ABCDC team is excited that the much-needed updates at Ashford Street are beginning,” said Executive Director, John Woods. “There is a lack of permanent supportive housing in our community, even though it is so desperately needed. We know that supportive housing leads to a reduction in chronic homelessness and improved wellbeing for residents. We are pleased to be able to preserve this important piece of safe, stable, and deeply affordable housing.”
“This project is ABCDC’s fourth Deep Energy Retrofit to date, putting us one step closer to realizing our goal of decarbonizing our entire housing stock by 2040,” said Caitlin Robillard, Director of Real Estate Development. “Converting these 12 apartments to all electric puts our total fossil-free unit count at 115, which represents over 20% of our portfolio! We are so thankful to the visionary leadership in Boston and the Commonwealth that are supporting this critical climate work.”
The DER at Ashford will last approximately 9 months and will address the safety and well-being of current and future residents of these 12 units of affordable housing by making much-needed repairs and upgrades. This project will be designed to meet various green building standards, including the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program. Key components of the project will include:
- New super insulated envelope and roof, and replacement of all windows and doors
- Installation of high-efficiency, all-electric air source heat pumps
- Addition of energy recovery ventilators to provide fresh air to the property
- Full renovation of the shared kitchen and all bathrooms
- ADA upgrades to achieve full compliance with accessibility requirements
- Electrification of all utilities
This decarbonization project will reduce energy usage at the property by at least 50%.
We would like to thank our project funders from Charlesbank Homes Foundation, City of Boston – Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Department of Energy Resources (DOER), Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), Housing Ministries of New England (HMNE), the Low Income Energy Assistance Network (LEAN), Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), and The Property and Casualty Initiative (PCI).
We would also like to thank our project team for their work, including Joy Squared Design, Onion Flats Architecture, Haycon, Tierney Development Services, Maloney Properties, Sustainable Comfort, and Judy Cohn Housing & Relocation Consultants.
