Image courtesy of Massport
Life science developers have snatched up most of the recent available properties in Boston’s Seaport District, but a publicly-owned parcel that’s been designated for workforce housing is receiving a strong round of interest.
Massport is seeking to redevelop a 0.6-acre parcel next to its 1,550-space parking garage on D Street as approximately 200 units of workforce housing. Eight developers responded to a request for qualifications, spokeswoman Jennifer Mehigan said.
The list of respondents includes:
- Beacon Communities LLC and Boston-based RISE Together
- The Community Builders Inc. of Boston and The Menkiti Group of Washington D.C.
- Cruz Development Corp. of Boston
- L & M Development Partners LLC of New York
- The Michaels Organization of Camden, New Jersey and Boston Partnership for Community Reinvestment LLC (Parent + Diamond and Urban Spaces)
- Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. and DREAM Development of Boston
- A partnership of Los Angeles-based Standard Communities, The Cronin Group and Caribbean Integration Community Development
- Trinity Financial, Inc. and the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corp.
- Winn Companies and Catalyst Ventures Development of Boston.
Massport has approved approximately 1,775 housing units at its parcels in the Seaport District, but the D Street project is the first to prioritize income-restricted housing. In the December request for qualifications, Massport said it will seek proposals that include condos and/or apartments for households earning from 30 to 120 percent of the area median income, potentially subsidized by market-rate units.
Massport designated its parcel D-4 for housing because the narrow site is suitable for residential floor plates and has proximity to parking, employment centers and public transit. Massport will rank development teams’ diversity, equity and inclusion in its selection, expected to take place in late 2022 following its issuance of a request for proposals.
