Brookley Flats Opens in Jamaica Plain, Creating 45 New Income-Restricted Homes

Energy-efficient development transformed a former industrial site into income-restricted homes, including artist live-work units.

The City of Boston, the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), Causeway Development LLC, MassHousing, community partners, and residents today celebrated the grand opening of Brookley Flats in Jamaica Plain with a block party. Located on Stonley Street, the new development created 45 affordable, income-restricted energy-efficient homes, including five artist live-work studios, expanding opportunities for Boston residents to build wealth and remain in the communities they call home.

In addition, for the first time, 20 of the 45 homes are reserved for first-generation homebuyers, helping create opportunities for households who are the first in their families to achieve homeownership in the United States. By expanding access to homeownership for residents who have historically faced barriers to building wealth, the development supports greater housing stability and economic opportunity across Boston's communities.

"The opening of Brookley Flats represents the City's continued commitment to making homeownership more attainable for Boston residents," said Chief of Housing Sheila A. Dillon. "By prioritizing first-generation homebuyers for many of these homes, Brookley Flats is helping families access housing in a way that helps break historic barriers."

Brookley Flats is a four-story, approximately 44,500-square-foot building that transformed a former industrial parcel into a vibrant residential community. The development includes 10 studio homes, 23 one-bedroom units, including 5 artist live-work units, 9 two-bedroom units, and 3 three-bedroom units. Five homes are fully accessible, and the property includes 60 bicycle parking spaces. Built to passive house energy-efficiency standards, the project promotes sustainability while helping reduce long-term utility costs for residents.

Located approximately one-half mile from the Forest Hills MBTA Station, Brookley Flats provides residents with convenient access to public transportation, employment centers, schools, and neighborhood amenities. The development also includes features such as an outdoor roof deck, ground-level patio, and welcoming lobby space, while a commissioned mural on the building's front-facing stair tower will celebrate local creativity and contribute to the neighborhood's public realm.

The development was made possible through a joint venture between JPNDC and Causeway Development LLC, supported by significant public and private investment. Funding sources include the City of Boston's Mayor's Office of Housing, Community Preservation Act funding, MassHousing, The Life Initiative, Property Casualty Insurance and Mass Save incentives.

"JPNDC is proud to celebrate the completion of the largest affordable homeownership project in our history," said Teronda Ellis, CEO of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation. "These 45 new homes give low- and moderate-income households who have long been priced out of Jamaica Plain the opportunity to put down roots and build their future in this neighborhood. This is also the first project in Boston to include preferences for first-generation homebuyers and Section 8 voucher holders."

Brookley Flats advances the City's broader efforts to expand affordable homeownership through initiatives such as ONE+Boston and the Neighborhood Homes Initiative. Additional support for eligible homebuyers is available through the Boston Home Center, including down payment and closing cost assistance programs designed to help residents achieve long-term housing stability.

"MassHousing is excited for the new homeowners at Brookley Flats who have put down roots in Jamaica Plain and are enjoying all the benefits of owning their own homes," said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. "We were pleased to partner with the city and the development team to create these new homes that will offer the owners economic and wealth-building opportunities that they may pass on to future generations."

The new homes reflect years of planning and advocacy for affordable homeownership in Jamaica Plain and support Mayor Michelle Wu's commitment to making Boston a home for everyone. Under Mayor Wu's leadership, Boston has made historic progress toward creating and preserving homes that residents can afford. Since the start of her first term, the City has produced or begun construction on more than 18,000 new homes, including thousands of income-restricted units. It has launched new policies to make it easier, faster, and less expensive to build housing across every neighborhood. Mayor Wu has directed record levels of investment to prevent displacement, expand affordable homeownership, and support renters and homeowners who face housing instability.

Through innovative programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund, Welcome Home Boston, and the Housing with Public Assets initiative, the City is finding new ways to create housing on public land and convert vacant buildings into homes. It also supports residents in building wealth and stability. The Mayor's focus on climate, housing, and health has also made Boston a national leader in green and energy-efficient housing. Together, these efforts are helping to make Boston a city where every resident can have a safe, stable, and affordable home, and where communities can grow stronger for generations to come.

About the Community Preservation Act (CPA)

After Boston voters adopted the CPA in November 2016, the City created a Community Preservation Fund. This fund is capitalized primarily by a one percent property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills that began in July 2017. The City uses this revenue to fund initiatives consistent with statewide CPA guidelines: income-restricted housing, historic preservation, open space, and public recreation. The funding of any project requires a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and appropriation by the City. For more information, please visit the Community Preservation webpage.

About Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation is a community development corporation dedicated to building community wealth, stability, and opportunity in Boston and beyond. With the underlying belief that prosperity belongs to everyone, JPNDC's work spans affordable housing development, small business support, economic prosperity services, and community organizing, working with individuals and families to accelerate their journeys toward stability, opportunity, and belonging, creating whole communities where people put down roots and build lives that grow with them.

• Published by: Housing