WinnCompanies & Arch Communities Complete 56-...

Boston (October 8, 2026) - WinnCompanies, an award-winning national owner, developer and manager of high-impact apartment communities, and development partner Arch Communities today announced completion of The Eastwalk, a 56-unit, transit-oriented, mixed-income development in Braintree, MA, just south of Boston.

Federal, state and local officials joined WinnCompanies executives on Thursday morning for a tour of the five-story community, which offers a range of bedroom sizes for low-income, middle-income, and market rate households in a riverfront neighborhood expected to benefit from future city and state infrastructure investments.

"For four generations, this site helped meet Braintree's electric needs. Today, The Eastwalk delivers a different type of power to the town, derived from a newly created community for people of various incomes, ages and talents," said WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn. "We appreciate the strong and enduring support of the many public and private partners behind this exciting community development effort."

Built on the long-vacant location of the Braintree Electric Light Department (BELD) power plant, the $47 million construction effort also created a pedestrian riverwalk along the Monatiquot River, with public gathering areas and improvements to the existing riverfront seawall.

"It's exciting to see this long-dormant parcel revitalized into critically needed mixed-income housing for the Braintree community. The redevelopment of this deteriorated and vacant site will continue the economic growth underway within the area," said Rich Relich, principal of Arch Communities. "We're extremely grateful for the continued support from our partners that are the key piece to facilitating these types of impactful mixed-income communities."

WinnDevelopment President Adam Stein led today's tour, which included Congressman Stephen Lynch, Massachusetts Housing Secretary Jauna Matias, Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce, former Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan, State Sen. John Keenan, State Rep. Mark Cusack, Braintree Town Councilors Elizabeth Maglio and Ryan Sterling, and MassHousing Originator Michael Carthas.

"I am very proud of our partnership with Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce and Gilbert Winn, CEO of WinnCompanies, which made the Eastwalk mixed-income housing development a reality," said Congressman Lynch. This was truly a team approach to use federal dollars to clean up a brownfield site along the Monatiquot river and create 56 new affordable, market rate and much-needed workforce/middle income housing units. As founder and co-chair of the Congressional Housing Caucus, I am grateful to WinnCompanies, Arch Communities, the Town of Braintree, and others who worked for more than a decade to bring this project across the finish line."

Said State Rep. Mark Cusack: "The completion of The Eastwalk is an exciting moment for Braintree, turning a long-vacant waterfront property into 56 much-needed homes for residents across a range of income levels while bringing new life to the neighborhood. We want to thank Congressman Stephen Lynch for his leadership in securing federal funding, along with WinnCompanies, Arch Communities, and our local and state partners who worked for years to make this project a reality."

The Eastwalk is the result of more than a decade of local planning efforts. The BELD property had been vacant for 15 years when the municipal utility transferred it to Braintree in 2011. Then-Mayor Joseph Sullivan commissioned a study of future uses and began seeking a qualified multifamily developer in 2020. Current Mayor Erin Joyce supported the project when she took office in January 2024 as part of her plans to stimulate additional economic development and affordable housing in Braintree.

"This milestone reflects years of collaboration and sets a high standard for how sustainable redevelopment can enhance our community," said Mayor Joyce. "The Eastwalk is a tremendous win for Braintree, breathing new life into an underutilized waterfront property through modern, energy-efficient homes for residents across income levels. It delivers the exact kind of thoughtful, transit-oriented investment that supports our local workforce and strengthens economic growth in East Braintree."

Added Former Mayor Sullivan: I'm pleased to see this plan finally come to fruition. The Eastwalk creates a community asset that expands housing opportunities in Braintree and makes a great addition to the neighborhood."

Expected to welcome residents in the upcoming weeks, The Eastwalk is within walking distance of the East Braintree/Weymouth Landing MBTA commuter rail station and the Braintree-Weymouth Landing business core offering shopping, dining, and recreational amenities. Future public sector infrastructure investment is expected to improve the streetscape, installing new accessible sidewalks, upgraded utilities, street parking and pedestrian-friendly enhancements.

The community features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including 30 units available to households earning up to 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), of which 16 of which are eligible for low-income project-based assistance. There are 20 middle income/workforce units for those earning up to 120 percent of AMI; and six units available for rent at market rates.

"The Eastwalk is a true blight-to-beauty success story," said WinnDevelopment President Adam Stein. "Thanks to the vision of Braintree's leaders and substantial state support, we've been able to create transit-oriented, workforce housing that's complimented by improved infrastructure, including public access to the area's natural beauty."

Designed to be certified under Passive House and Energy Star Multifamily New Construction standards, the community prioritizes energy efficiency to help curb emissions and utility costs. It offers five electric vehicle charging stations with the capacity to meet future demand.

"The Eastwalk is a model of community development. Braintree recognized both the need for additional housing and the opportunity presented by an underutilized part of town. By bringing those two together-and working diligently for more than a decade-Braintree realized this remarkable project," said State Sen. John F. Keenan of the Norfolk and Plymouth district. "This project not only importantly increases housing opportunities, but also creates a vibrant, desirable community that connects people to transportation, local businesses, and the surrounding neighborhood. Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly over the years to bring this vision to life."

The Eastwalk was made possible through the collaboration of public, private, and nonprofit partners, and by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), which allocated 9 percent federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. EOHLC also provided financing through the Housing Stabilization Fund (HSF), managed by EOHLC; the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program, administered by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP); and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) program funds, administered by MassHousing through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. EOHLC partnered with the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) to provide a loan from the Facilities Consolidation Fund (FCF).

"Eastwalk is bringing new life to Braintree's riverfront while creating more housing options for residents," said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias. "These 56 new homes will serve households across a range of incomes, with access to public transit that connects them to jobs and everyday needs. We are proud to have helped bring this investment to Braintree."

MassHousing, an independent, quasi-public agency that provides financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts, provided a taxable permanent first-mortgage loan and a Middle Income/Workforce Housing loan. "It is exciting to see this underutilized parcel on Braintree's riverfront come to life as a brand new, energy efficient housing community for households with a range of incomes that also created public space and a new riverwalk for the community," said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. "The residents who will soon occupy these new apartment homes will be an important part of the town's efforts to bring new life and vibrancy into this neighborhood."

Boston Financial is the project's federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investor. "At Boston Financial, we believe everyone deserves a safe, quality, affordable place to live," said Robert Charest, Senior Managing Director of Equity Production at Boston Financial. "The Eastwalk brings that belief to life by creating energy-efficient homes for households across a range of incomes in a well-connected, transit-oriented community. We are proud to partner with WinnCompanies and Arch Communities on a development that will strengthen Braintree and expand access to quality housing for years to come."

U.S. Bank is the project's state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investor. "Affordable housing developments like The Eastwalk require coordinated financing and deep expertise," said Mary Anne Christopher, senior project manager/underwriter, State Clearinghouse, at U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, the community development and infrastructure finance division of U.S. Bank. "We're proud to work alongside WinnCompanies and Arch Communities to provide financing that advances long-term affordability and community stability."

Blue Hub Capital is providing financing in connection with the state tax credit proceeds. Webster Bank provided construction financing. The South Shore HOME Consortium, a regional municipal partnership in Massachusetts focused on administering federal housing and community development funds, contributed from its HOME fund.

Managed by WinnResidential, the property management arm of WinnCompanies, the community features 22 one-bedroom, one-bath apartments, 29 two-bedroom, two-bath units, and five three-bedroom, two-bath units.

Resident amenities include a clubhouse community room with kitchen, on-site workspace, a fitness room, covered and surface parking, an interior bike storage room, and an on-site management office. Common areas include two second-story decks overlooking the river, a patio lounge with grills and a gas firepit.

The project enjoyed strong support from the Braintree Town Council, Conservation Commission and Planning Department as it navigated a lengthy and complex entitlement process that required approvals from the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Keith Construction, Inc., of Canton, MA, served as general contractor for the project. The Architectural Team of Chelsea, MA served as project architect. Weston and Sampson, Inc., of Reading, MA, served as civil engineer, geotechnical engineer and environmental engineer.

ABOUT WINNCOMPANIES

WinnCompanies is an award-winning owner, developer and manager of high-impact, quality apartment homes, supported by 4,600 team members in 28 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The company is known as a leading manager of multifamily apartment communities, operating the nation's largest portfolio of affordable housing with a groundbreaking resident services platform. Its community development work prioritizes creating true mixed-income properties for households of all incomes. The company has also been a top manager of privatized housing for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families since 2001. Founded in Boston in 1971, WinnCompanies is a family-owned, private company. Learn more at WinnCompanies.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ed Cafasso
[email protected]
Call or Text: (617)455-9651

Download Press Release