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BOSTON -
Wednesday, June 30, 2021- Today, Mayor Kim Janey, the State of
Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Michael
Kennealy, Hearth President and CEO Mark Hinderlie, D.F. Pray President
Scott Pray, the Hearth Board of Directors and local elected officials
joined Hearth at Four Corners residents to celebrate the grand opening of
Hearth at Four Corners. The more than $19 million housing development
created 54 new units of supportive, affordable housing for older adults,
and is located on a previously vacant city-owned lot at 16 Ronald Street
in Dorchester. Today’s announcement demonstrates the City of Boston’s
commitment to creating more equitable affordable housing for older
residents.
“As a city, we
measure our success by how we serve all of our people. I'm proud that
together with our partners, we've created these affordable and beautiful
new homes for older Boston residents, offering a place that they are
proud to call home,” said Mayor Janey. “These new homes are an example of
our commitment to preserving and growing our affordable housing options
in our city. I want to thank all partners involved for making Hearth at
Four Corners possible, which will make a positive difference in the lives
of the residents and the Dorchester neighborhood.”
Hearth at Four
Corners created 54 affordable apartments for older Boston residents,
creating 52 one-bedroom units and two studio apartments. All residents
living in the new 48,867 square foot building have access to on-site
concierge services and a Resident Service Coordinator. They also have
onsite wellness services. The new housing development serves individuals
age 62 or older who have a range of incomes, including eight units for
formerly homeless individuals, 11 units for clients of the Department of
Mental Health, 19 units for those with incomes up to 30% of the area
median income (AMI) ($26,850 for an individual), 18 units for incomes up
to 50% of AMI ($44,800 for an individual), and 17 units for those incomes
up to 60% of AMI ($53,760 for an individual).
“We are so glad to
be able to work with all of our partners to create beautiful, affordable
housing for older Bostonians,” said Jessica Boatright, Deputy Director of
the Neighborhood Housing Division for the Department of Neighborhood Development.
“We know how important it is to create housing for our aging residents to
ensure that they are able to continue to live in the City that they have
helped to build and call their home. Hearth at Four Corners is a
wonderful addition for older Bostonians and for the
neighborhood.”
“When you’re in a
shelter or on the streets, you’re just surviving. You’re only thinking
about your next meal and where you’re going to sleep,” said Hearth at
Four Corners resident Juanita. “When I moved into my apartment, I
couldn’t believe how much stuff was already there. Hearth provided
me with a bed, new sheets, couch, everything for my kitchen and bathroom.
It’s like they knew the toll surviving takes on a person, and they were
going to help me live, again. All these years all I wanted was housing,
but Hearth found me a home. I want to thank Mayor Janey, everyone
from the city, the shelters and especially at Hearth for not giving up on
people like me and helping me make this dream come true. I finally have a
home!”
Hearth at Four
Corners construction used the highest standards of universal design
throughout the new building to accommodate older adults of all abilities.
The building meets LEED Silver, Energy Star, and Enterprise Green
Community standards.
“Every day at the
Age Strong Commission, we hear from older Bostonians facing homelessness
and struggling with housing issues,” said Commissioner Shea. “I am proud
of this partnership for what it’s going to mean to so many older adults,
providing not only a place to sleep, but a home and a community where
they can live and thrive. Now more than ever, we need to come together to
empower older adults and build supportive communities like this one.”
Financing for the
project includes support from the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and State, Federal
low-income housing tax credits, MassDevelopment, Citizens, and Eastern
Bank. Philanthropic support was provided by Charles H. Farnsworth Trust,
Charlesbank Homes, and individual donors.
“Hearth at Four
Corners represents a new phase of Hearth’s meeting its mission of ending
homelessness among older adults, developed after 30 years of local and
national leadership in addressing this often-overlooked population,”
stated Mark Hinderlie, CEO of the developer, Hearth, Inc. “Hearth’s
previous 174 units were built or developed specifically for formerly
homeless older adults or those at imminent risk of homelessness. Four
Corners incorporates a new focus on preventing homelessness by
providing opportunities for those with very low to moderately low incomes
to afford to remain safely housed in a beautiful, affordable home.”
The new building
is located on the former Ronald Gibson School site, near the MBTA
Fairmount line. The construction of the new building was done by Hearth’s
contractor D.F. Pray, and the new development received support from the
community, the Erie Ellington Brinsley Neighborhood Association. D.F.
Pray also adheres to the City of Boston’s Residents Jobs Policy on
construction projects, with Hearth at Four Corners exceeding the City’s
target of 40% by hiring 65.3% minority contractors.
In the past five
years, 424 units for older residents have either been completed or are
currently in construction, 93 percent of which are income-restricted
units. Also, the City has seven more developments in the pipeline that
will create 374 more units for older residents.
The construction
of Hearth at Four Corners strongly aligns with the City of Boston’s
housing goals to produce affordable housing for older Bostonians, as
outlined in Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030. Through Housing A Changing City: Boston
2030, the City’s housing plan, the City set a target of creating 2,000
low-income elderly units by 2030. Along with Hearth at Four Corners is
Grace Apartments in East Boston, The Barton Rogers School in Hyde Park,
and several other projects, the City has permitted or constructed 627 new
low-income units for older residents. |
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