The Office of Housing Announces Start of Construction for Affordable Homeownership Development in…

Six affordable homeownership units and new community garden to transform vacant City-owned land on Mildred Avenue

The City of Boston today announced the closing and start of construction for a new affordable homeownership development at 30-36 Mildred Avenue in Mattapan. Norfolk Design & Construction, in partnership with The Trustees of Reservations, will develop six homeownership units alongside a community garden of approximately 7,000 square feet across four long-vacant City-owned lots.

Three of the homeownership units will be affordable to households earning at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), and three units will be affordable to households earning at or below 100 percent of AMI. Construction is expected to begin immediately, with completion anticipated in 2027.

"This project reflects our commitment to creating affordable homeownership opportunities while investing in community-driven open space," said Sheila A. Dillon, Chief of Housing. "By pairing new housing with a community garden, we are building stronger neighborhoods while expanding access to homeownership for Boston families."

The development was shaped through engagement with neighborhood residents and community stakeholders to ensure the project reflects local priorities and community needs. In addition to creating new affordable housing, the project will provide opportunities for recreation, gardening, and neighborhood gathering in an area that has experienced long-term vacancy and disinvestment.

Norfolk Design & Construction and The Trustees of Reservations will work together to support long-term stewardship of the community garden and encourage ongoing community participation. The garden will provide neighborhood residents and Boston Public School students from the Mildred Avenue K-8 School across the street with access to green space, opportunities for gardening, and a place for gathering and connection. The garden design, developed in collaboration with community members and staff from the Mildred, incorporates a large gathering space and dedicated raised garden beds for use as an outdoor learning space. The partnership with The Trustees of Reservations will help ensure long-term stewardship and meaningful community engagement for the garden.

"We are proud to partner with the City of Boston and The Trustees of Reservations to deliver high-quality affordable homeownership opportunities while preserving meaningful green space for residents," said Adler Bernadin, president and founder of Norfolk Design & Construction. "This project is deeply personal to me. I grew up on Norfolk Street, just a short distance from this development site, and I have seen firsthand both the challenges and the strength of this community. Those experiences helped shape my values, the vision behind Norfolk Design & Construction, and my commitment to community-driven development. This project represents an opportunity to invest back into the neighborhood that invested in me, create pathways to homeownership for working families, and help strengthen the long-term stability and vitality of the community."

"The Mildred Avenue community garden will create space for neighbors to connect with the land and with one another," said Vidya Tikku, vice president for Urban Outdoors at The Trustees of Reservations. "We are excited to support long-term stewardship and help ensure this garden remains a welcoming and productive space for the community."

Under Mayor Michelle 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, and 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, convert vacant buildings into homes, and support residents in building wealth and stability. The Mayor's focus on climate 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 GrowBoston:

GrowBoston works to expand food production and support local food producers across Boston, including gardeners, farmers, and beekeepers. Building on more than 25 years of work by the Mayor's Office of Housing through the Grassroots Program, GrowBoston supports community gardens, urban farms, food forests, and other growing spaces through land access, funding, technical assistance, and educational resources. The program also advances innovative growing methods such as rooftop, vertical, and hydroponic farming, while partnering across City departments to make food production more accessible citywide.