Orient Heights Redevelopment Project

Demo Wrapping Up for Phase II of the Orient Heights Redevelopment

Demo of four existing buildings within the Orient Heights Development is wrapping up to make way for two new townhomes and one midrise building. The new buildings will include a total of 88 state public housing units. This is the second phase of the master plan to redevelop the 331 units of affordable housing located at the existing Orient Heights development in East Boston.

 

 

$26M in Construction Financing Secured for Phase II of Orient Heights Redevelopment

Citizens Bank announced today that its Community Development Group has provided $26 million in construction financing to Trinity Orient Heights Phase Two LP for the demolition of four existing buildings and replacement of 88 state public housing units, through the new construction of two townhomes and one midrise building. This effort, led by the Boston Housing Authority, East Boston CDC and Trinity Financial, is the second phase of a master plan to redevelop the 331 units of affordable housing located at the existing Orient Heights development in East Boston.

Nine of the units in phase two will be leased to tenants at or below 30 percent Area Median Income (AMI) and the remaining 79 units will be reserved for tenants at or below 60 percent AMI. All of the units will receive either state or federal housing subsidies. 

 “We greatly value our partnership with Citizens Bank and appreciate the Community Development Group’s market knowledge and excellent execution,” said Eva Erlich, vice president of development, Trinity Financial. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Citizens team as the construction of this second phase progresses.”

  

Building Permit Issued for Phase Two of Orient Heights Redevelopment

Building permits have been issued for Phase Two of the Orient Heights Redevelopment in East Boston. The two new permits are for an 8 unit townhouse and 4-story, 72 unit building along Vallar Street.  In total, the project will be a complete overhaul of the l of the 15-acre, 331-unit public housing development, which originally opened in 1951.  Phase One of the project was completed this past summer.

 

Certificate of Occupancy issued at Orient Heights

A Certificate of Occupancy has been issued at the Orient Heights Redevelopment in East Boston with phase one complete. Phase One, was budgeted at approximately $52 million and replaced four existing buildings containing 90 apartments with 120 affordable housing units across a series of townhouses and one mid-rise building. 

The four-phased Orient Heights Redevelopment will replace 331 public housing units built in 1951 with 415 housing units, including 373 affordable and 42 market-rate.

Orient Heights Redevelopment NPC approval keeps the project moving forward

Phase One of the Orient Heights Redevelopment was completed in Spring 2018. Phase Two of the revised project consists of the demolition of four structures on the northwestern edge of the project site and the construction of 88 residential units with a combination of the townhouse and mid-rise buildings, community space in the mid-rise building, 76 vehicle parking spaces, and open space and public realm improvements.

The NPC includes the following proposed changes to the project as it was originally approved:

• A decrease of four residential units to be constructed as part of the Phase Two project, bringing the total from 92 to 88 units.

• The elimination of two parking spaces, bringing the total from 78 to 76 parking spaces.

• The elimination of 42 non-public residential units from the project, bringing the total number of residential units from 373 (a combination of public and non-public residential units) to 331 units (all public housing units).

• The elimination of 49 parking spaces from the project, bringing the total number from 306 to 265 on-street and off-street parking spaces.

• The elimination of approximately 57 bicycle parking spaces from the project, bringing the total number from 388 to 331 bicycle parking spaces.

• An increase of approximately 73,290 square feet of open space from the project, bringing the total from 87,985 square feet to 161,275 square feet of open space.

• The elimination of a roadway connection from Waldemar Avenue to Vallar Road.

• The existing community center within the project site will be renovated instead of newly constructed, 1,000 square feet of community gathering space will be provided in Phase Two and 5,200 square feet of community gathering space will be provided in Phase Three.

First phase of Orient Heights public housing redevelopment breaks ground

A groundbreaking ceremony was held last Wednesday (December 7th) for the first phase of the redevelopment of the aging 15-acre Orient Heights public housing development in East Boston. Phase One, budgeted at approximately $52 million and expected to open in early 2018, will replace four existing buildings containing 90 apartments with 120 affordable housing units across a series of townhouses and one mid-rise building. Upon completion, the four-phased Orient Heights Redevelopment will replace 331 public housing units built in 1951 with 415 housing units, including 373 affordable and 42 market-rate.

“This public housing facility has been the home of many families for decades, and I am proud that with the support of our state and federal partners we are revitalizing current facilities, while creating new living spaces for future residents,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh at the groundbreaking. The development team hopes to build off of the success of past public housing redevelopment in East Boston. “We are looking forward to working with our development partners Trinity Financial to revitalize the community as we successfully did together at the Maverick development in Eastie several years ago,” stated Boston Housing Authority Administrator Bill McGonagle. The following is a photograph from the Orient Heights groundbreaking:

Orient Heights public housing overhaul approved for construction

Overhaul proposed for Orient Heights public housing

 

A project notification form has been filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority for the proposed overhaul of the Orient Heights public housing development in East Boston. The proposed project would demolish all buildings on site and construct 51 new buildings ranging from two to five stories. Buildings would contain 373 public housing units and 42 market rate housing units. An 8,000 square foot community center and management office would also be built on site.

The project would be developed by Trinity Financial in collaboration with the East Boston Community Development Corporation and the Boston Housing Authority. The project would be constructed in four phases. The development team expects to commence construction of the first phase this fall. Expected completion of the final phase is in 2024.

The following is a link to the full Project Notification Form. More information about the proposed project is posted below.

Trinity Financial files Letter of Intent to redevelop Orient Heights public housing

Developer Trinity Financial has filed a Letter of Intent with the Boston Redevelopment Authority to redevelop the Orient Heights public housing development in East Boston. Construction would begin in fall 2016 pending Boston Redevelopment Authority approval. The following is a link to the Letter of Intent.