Image from Boston Planning and Development Agency
Over the course of nearly two years, ABCDC has been collaborating with The Community Builders (TCB) and The Davis Company to develop a unique affordable housing component that will become part of the new 1234-1240 Soldiers Field Road Project in Allston. We are excited to report that this project has completed a lengthy and productive public review process and has been approved by the BPDA. The project will now move into the pre-construction phase with the expectation that this innovative affordable housing project will become a reality.
The affordable component of this project will be a 72-unit project with a combination of both rental housing and homeownership located in a single building within the larger development. By creating the single structure as the location for the affordable housing required for the site, ABCDC and TCB will be able to ensure deeper affordability for the units created and at the same time, allow for the creation of larger sized units that will help accommodate family-sized households as opposed to mirroring the smaller units planned for the market-rate housing.
According to the BPDA, “This project fits within the planning context of the Western Avenue Corridor Study and Rezoning effort, as it continues the transition of this area from a largely industrial and commercial area into a mixed-use area that is intended to be redeveloped with thoughtfully planned projects that also provide substantial public benefits in the form of public realm improvements, additional affordable housing, economic development opportunities, and new open spaces available to the public.”
“We are pleased that the City policymakers were willing to consider this effort to customize the important benefits generated by the Inclusionary Development Policy to the specific needs of the Allston Brighton neighborhood. We are looking forward to helping make affordable housing available for folks who want to make Allston their home long term.” -John Woods, Executive Director of ABCDC.
These new developments will replace the Boston Skating Club building. The affordable housing component is being created with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) as well as developer-required contributions originated through the Inclusionary Development Policy.
Learn more about this project and stay tuned for additional updates: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/1234-1240-soldiers-field-road