Mayor Wu Cuts the Ribbon at Supportive, Sustainable Affordable Housing for Older Adults in Nubian Square

Mayor Michelle Wu, joined by Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, Representative Chynah Tyler, developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and partner Nuestra Comunidad celebrated the grand opening of The Kenzi at Bartlett Station 50 supportive, sustainable, transit-oriented affordable apartments for older adults in Nubian Square.

"I am proud of the City of Boston’s and our partners' commitment to redevelop Bartlett Station, which has resulted in the creation of fifty new affordable apartments for older Bostonians on this campus," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "Housing is a fundamental human right, especially for our older residents. Everyone in Boston deserves a beautiful, safe place to call home, and that’s what the residents of this new building have here at The Kenzi."

The Grand Opening of The Kenzi at Bartlett Station underscores the continued dedication of the City of Boston and its partners to creating sustainable, transit-oriented, inclusive, and vibrant communities in Boston and across Massachusetts.

The Kenzi will serve seniors with a variety of income levels with the majority of apartments designated for individuals with maximum incomes of 60% or less of the area median income ($62,340 for one-person households) and a significant number for those with maximum incomes of 30% or less of area median income ($31,150 for one-person households).

“The Kenzi will provide dignified, green housing with services and support to meet the unique needs of Boston’s senior community,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “Projects like the Kenzi are a win for the entire community and EOHLC was proud to support this project and the continued revitalization and vibrancy of Nubian Square.”

 The development also includes five units of housing for formerly homeless Bostonians.

The larger Nubian Square site is being redeveloped by Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation and Windale Developers, Inc. and will ultimately create approximately 383 new homes for working families, including 166 homes for purchase, 217 rental apartments, and 30,000 square feet of commercial space.

“The Kenzi at Bartlett Station is not just a testament to affordability but also to sustainability, boasting environmentally friendly design features that meet LEED Homes Silver certifiable standards and EPA's Energy Star standards with a roof-top solar array and the first City permitted Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for emergency power in a building over 4-stories, said POAH President and CEO Aaron Gornstein.

“It also represents innovation in housing and health through a partnership with Boston Medical Center that resulted in $500k in Accelerating Investments for Health Communities funding and additional support health services to residents through an on-site center.”

The beautiful new development boasts state-of-the-art sustainable housing, featuring 41 affordable one-bedroom units, 3 affordable two-bedroom units, and 6 market-rate two-bedroom units within its 57,576 square feet expanse.

“The Kenzi is a major component of the revitalization of the Nubian Square area, and will provide supportive, affordable housing for older residents,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. “The transformative redevelopment of the Bartlett Station property has brought new housing and economic opportunities to Roxbury and we are pleased to be part of the development and financing team.” 

Under the leadership of the Wu Administration, the Mayor’s Office of Housing has made significant progress in addressing its housing needs, for its older Bostonians, with a total of 375 homes either completed or starting construction in 2024. These projects underscore the city's dedication to creating inclusive communities where residents of all backgrounds can thrive. Among the completed or nearing completion projects are 43 homes at 9 Leyland Street in Dorchester, 42 homes at Grace Apartments in East Boston, and 74 homes at The Pryde in Hyde Park. Furthermore, there will be groundbreakings this year on several residences for older Boston residents, including 63 new homes at 1201 River Street in Hyde Park, 30 homes at 150 River Street in Mattapan, 39 homes at 3371 Washington Street in Jamaica Plain, 48 homes at Cheney Street in Roxbury, and 36 homes at Hamilton and Mt. Everett in Dorchester. These developments add to the City of Boston’s commitment to expanding affordable housing opportunities for older residents. 

The development of this new building was made possible through generous funding from various government and private entities, including the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing, The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), MassHousing, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Bank of America and Boston Medical Center.

View The Kenzi at Bartlett Station >>