Indigo Block
Update
10/08/21
Indigo Block Opens in Dorchester
Boston Mayor Kim Janey joined the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Boston Capital Development, Escazú Development, Newmarket community partners, and local residents for the grand opening celebration of Indigo Block, an 89-unit, mixed-use, transit-oriented affordable development on a 2.5-acre parcel located at 65 East Cottage Street in Dorchester.
“The completion of the rental units at Indigo Block is the culmination of years of hard work and many productive partnerships between the community, area stakeholders, government agencies, and private investors. I am proud that together, we are guaranteeing long-term affordability by creating these new homes,” said the Mayor. “I want to thank Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Boston Capital Development, and Escazú Development for all they have done to get the project done against all odds in the middle of a pandemic.”
Indigo Block creates 80 mixed-income rental units and nine homeownership units for first-time homebuyers. Also, it creates 23,000 square feet of light industrial and office space, which will accommodate up to seven commercial tenants. Indigo Block creates affordable housing options and provides opportunities for small businesses to expand and create jobs in the community.
Dorchester Bay and its partners, Boston Capital Development and Escazú Development, have developed 80 rental units that will house low- to middle-income households. Of the rental units, 44 will be available to individuals making up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), or $56,400 per year, and 36 will be for individuals making between 61% and up to 90% of AMI, or $76,100 per year.
“As an organization, Dorchester Bay strives to create healthy, safe, and attractive homes for our residents, and economic opportunities for the community. This project shows how a truly productive private, nonprofit, and public sector partnership can accomplish these goals. We're grateful to all of our partners for helping us to deliver Indigo Block, and we look forward to its being a community asset for years to come,” said Dorchester Bay EDC CEO Perry Newman.
“We are very excited that Indigo Block is near completion. This project fills an incredible need in the community for more mixed affordable housing units as well as light industrial space that we know will provide dozens of jobs for local residents! The strength of our partnership has been key to bringing about a model development that we know will set the bar for similar projects in the future,” said Newmarket Community Partners Executive Director Susan Sullivan.
Indigo Block was designed by Davis Square Architects to be energy and resource-efficient in accordance with the City of Boston’s Green Affordable Housing Program. It utilizes high-efficiency heating and cooling systems fixtures, as well as Energy Star-rated appliances. The development also employed environmentally-friendly design features throughout. The site received LEED Neighborhood Development certification. It also meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star standards.
“The Indigo Block fulfills a long-held community vision of transforming a vacant city parcel into a true neighborhood asset that delivers affordable homes and economic opportunities,” said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. “This new housing community resulted from a truly collaborative effort by all the development partners, and the Uphams Corner community and MassHousing were pleased to be part of completing this dynamic project for the residents now calling Indigo Block home.”
This mixed-income transit-oriented development was made possible with funding from the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), Inclusionary Development Program (IDP), HOME Program, Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Commercial Area Transit Node Housing Program (CATNHP), the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) from Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Funding support for Indigo Block also includes financing from Eastern Bank, Boston Private Bank, The Life Initiative, Boston Capital, MassHousing, Property and Casualty Initiative LLC, Community Based Housing (CBH), CEDAC, and The Northern Trust Company.
