A new chapter in Mattapan's housing story is being written at the BLUME on the Ave, where the Mayor's Office of Housing and DVM Housing Partners are making notable strides. They're celebrating the progress of this affordable homeownership community, aimed at retaining local residents and fostering economic growth through property ownership. As reported by the City of Boston's official news, this development includes 30 income-restricted homes and over 3,000 square feet of commercial space dedicated to serving the neighborhood along Blue Hill Avenue.
Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing, expressed pride in reclaiming City-owned land to benefit the community, providing homes and economic prospects to civilians. "This development shows how we can return City-owned land to community use and create both homes and economic opportunity," Dillon stated in an interview with the City of Boston's official news. In a competitive disposition of vacant lots last year, the Office of Housing awarded the project to DVM Housing Partners, a minority and woman-owned firm with strong neighborhood connections.
The focus of BLUME on the Ave is not only on affordability but also on sustainable living. Each unit boasts energy-efficient, all-electric amenities, modern electrical systems, and improved air quality indoors. These features are part of Boston's broader effort to provide environmentally friendly housing that also reduces energy costs for its residents. Complementing the residential units, the ground-floor commercial spaces will be serving as home for Black-owned, woman-owned businesses, a reflection of the community's rich tapestry and drive towards inclusive economic development. Among them, as the City of Boston's news bulletin declares, are Sadiddy Lifestyle, Body, Stone, and Soul + Smart Startup HR, and SIDE Presents—the latter also a recipient of the City’s SPACE Grant program, part of efforts to reinvigorate commercial corridors.
The partnership powering this venture is comprised of the City of Boston, MassHousing, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, and LISC Boston. Dariela Villón-Maga of DVM Housing Partners emphasized the importance of community input in shaping such initiatives. "We want these new homes and businesses to reflect the culture and future of Mattapan," Villón-Maga told the City of Boston's news outlet. The project employs a range of firms for its development, including Oxbow Urban, CS2C/NE, Bald Hill Builders, and Studio Luz Architects, to ensure a seamless realization of the vision for a strengthened Lower Blue Hill Avenue corridor.
This endeavor is part of Mayor Wu’s larger plan to proliferate affordable housing across Boston. Measures such as funneling financial resources into mixed-income housing, executing a public land audit, and refining zoning and development policies to stimulate affordable housing construction by private entities have been championed by Mayor Wu. According to a release from the City of Boston, the mayoral efforts are aimed at transforming Boston into a city where all citizens can secure stable housing accompanied by valuable community resources.
