Yesterday, Mayor Michelle Wu, alongside Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Congressman Stephen Lynch, planted their shovels in the earth to formally commence construction on the modernization of Boston's Mary Ellen McCormack public housing. According to a statement from the City of Boston, the redevelopment stands as a beacon of progress, transforming the city's oldest public housing complex into a 3,300-unit mixed-income neighborhood. The inaugural Building A, set to be ready in the fall of 2026, will provide 94 apartments for current residents.
The celebration marked not just the start of construction but also a moment of triumph for the Mary Ellen McCormack Task Force. They're finally about to see their long-held aspirations take tangible form, which includes gaining an ownership stake in the 1,016 affordable units on the 30-acre site. According to the City of Boston, Mayor Wu praised the project's sustainable approach and resident-led planning process. "Mary Ellen McCormack has long been a cornerstone of the South Boston community," Mayor Wu told attendees, emphasizing that the future of the site will continue to be shaped "by and for the residents themselves."
The project isn't just about the aesthetics or adding more units; it's also breaking new ground with the city's first-ever underground geothermal heating and cooling system. WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) collaborated on this groundbreaking system, stamping a green footprint on the $62 million Building A. As BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok said, this redevelopment promises a safer, greener, and far more modern community, fitting for those who've called the Mary Ellen McCormack homes for generations.
A vital component of this project is its commitment to inclusion, with the construction of Building A requiring local and low-income resident participation, and fostering Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). It aims to specifically direct 40 percent of construction work hours to people of color, 25 percent for low-income residents, and 12 percent of hours to women. Moreover, Mayor Wu remarked, the area's transformation will rightly celebrate the legacy of the community by inviting future generations to one of Boston's greenest spaces. Meanwhile, Gilbert Winn, CEO of WinnCompanies, expressed his company's dedication to working with residents and creating opportunities for all families, adding to the project's promise of success.
The project's funding quilt includes loans and credits from entities like Bank of America, MassHousing, and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, ensuring a solid financial foundation. Representative David Biele lauded the efforts, noting the importance of the project as a transformative investment in both affordable and workforce housing. City Councilor Ed Flynn also praised the considerable communal effort that led to the redevelopment, looking forward to the enhancement it will bring to South Boston's public housing landscape.
