The milestone marks the full transformation of the Whittier Street Apartments in Roxbury, which launched with the support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. In 2016, HUD awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant to the City of Boston and the Boston Housing Authority as co-grantees, supporting housing redevelopment, resident services, and broader neighborhood investment.

“Whittier has long been a foundation for Roxbury families,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This redevelopment is transformational for the city, bringing even more affordable housing and deeper connections to the neighborhood than before the project began. I’m grateful to work with Congresswoman Pressley and our local, state, federal and nonprofit partners who helped deliver this project.”

“The completion of The Amp at Flat 9 is a powerful example of what’s possible when we commit to investing in our communities with intention and care,” said State Senator Liz Miranda. “The transformation of the Whittier Street Apartments represents more than new buildings, it reflects a promise to Roxbury families that they deserve safe, dignified housing and vibrant community spaces. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone with the residents, partners, and leaders who made this vision a reality and who continue to show what equitable development can look like in our city.”

Originally built in the early 1950s, the 200 public housing units at Whittier Street Apartments have been home to generations of low-income Boston families. The multi-year redevelopment has replaced those units with 210 deeply-affordable homes and created 262 additional mixed-income rental units across the site and within the nearby neighborhood, a total of 472 units of housing. The project also introduced new streets, retail space, play areas, and pedestrian-friendly design that integrates the development into the surrounding community.

“This celebration is more than a decade in the making. We could not be more proud to welcome our Whittier families home and to celebrate a project that brings new life and critical new housing opportunities to the Roxbury neighborhood,” said Boston Housing Authority Administrator Kenzie Bok. “This project is a reminder of what we can achieve when federal, state, and local partners work together to deliver the housing our families deserve.”

The Amp is a 12-story, mixed-income residential building located at the corner of Tremont, Ruggles, and Whittier Streets. Completed in September 2025, it adds 172 apartment homes ranging from studios to two-bedroom units, along with shared community spaces, roof decks, a fitness room, landscaped outdoor areas, and approximately 9,000 square feet of commercial space intended to support neighborhood-serving uses.

“We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in the comprehensive redevelopment of the former Whittier public housing site into a vibrant mixed income community with access to jobs and cultural amenities,” said Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH). “The Amp furthers Mayor Wu’s and Governor Healey’s goal to expand affordable housing production near public transit while providing much needed commercial space for local business so the Roxbury community can continue to thrive.”

Flat 9 at Whittier was developed in three phases. Phase One, completed in January 2020, delivered 92 family-sized apartments with a community lounge and playground and created 76 additional mixed-income apartments—including 43 BHA replacement units—nearby in Madison Park Village. Phase Two, completed in December 2021, added 52 mixed-income units with shared community spaces. Phase Three, The Amp, completes the redevelopment and introduces a high-rise residential building with modern amenities and commercial space.

Read the entire story from the City of Boston here.

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The new development will create 15 new affordable condominiums and commercial space in Roxbury

The post From the City of Boston: The City of Boston and Madison Park Development Corporation Celebrate the Financing Closing for 75–81 Dudley Street in Nubian Square appeared first on Madison Park Development Corporation.

In the heart of Roxbury’s Nubian Square, a fresh beacon of affordable living is on the rise with the financing closure of 75–81 Dudley Street, a development project spearheaded by Madison Park Development Corporation in partnership with the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing. This new venture aims to inject 15 transit-oriented, income-restricted condominiums into the vibrant community, bolstered by the chief of housing’s advocacy for safe, affordable living options as Sheila A. Dillon stated, “Through PLAN: Nubian and the leadership of community partners like Madison Park Development Corporation, we are turning long-vacant parcels into homes and active neighborhood spaces that reflect the priorities of Roxbury residents,” according to the City of Boston website.

Read the story on Hoodline here.

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Abilities Dance Boston, a dance company committed to centering artists with disabilities and expanding access and representation in Greater Boston’s performing arts space, announced today that it will showcase the original works of its composers with a special concert at 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 7^th at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury.

The Music of Abilities Dance Boston concert will celebrate the creative collaborations that have shaped the company’s recent works, bringing a spotlight to the original music behind several past dance performances. The in-person-only event will feature approximately 10 original compositions performed by a live 13-person ensemble, conducted by Music Director Andrew Choe. With pieces written by Choe, as well as composers Robert Gross and Erin Rogers, the original works will be presented together for the first time in this celebratory evening guided by artistry and inclusion.

Read the entire article on City Biz here.

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MASSACHUSETTS — A Massachusetts agency dedicated to affordable housing is helping people offer another necessity to state residents: Food.

The post On The Patch: MA Housing Agency Awards $150K In Grants For Community Gardens, Farmer’s Markets appeared first on Madison Park Development Corporation.

The grants, part of MassHousing’s Food and Nutrition Grant Program, will be used to create or expand projects such as on-site gardens—including raised beds for seniors and people with disabilities—mobile markets that bring fresh produce directly to residents, and partnerships that offer food vouchers and cooking classes.

“There is a clear and growing need to address food insecurity in the Commonwealth,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. “The financial and health impacts of food insecurity affect the housing stability of residents of multi-family communities. This program focuses on the intersection between housing stability and food security.”

The program has partnered with more than 40 local organizations, including farms, agricultural nonprofits, and community meal programs. In addition to direct food access, the initiatives offer residents opportunities to participate in nutrition workshops, youth programs, and community harvest events.

This effort comes as food insecurity continues to impact a large portion of Massachusetts residents. According to the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Fourth Annual Statewide Report, approximately 34% of households in the state report experiencing food insecurity.

Grants of up to $10,000 per site were made available to MassHousing-financed properties in 2024 and 2025. Participating property management companies include WinnCompanies, Schochet Companies, Peabody Properties, The Community Builders, Kent Street Elderly LP, Madison Park Development Corporation, Related Management, Beacon Communities, and Housing Management Resources.

In July, MassHousing convened a symposium bringing together stakeholders from across the housing and food sectors. Attendees included representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, health care organizations, housing finance agencies, food systems experts, and developers, all focused on advancing collaboration between affordable housing and food access efforts.

The Food and Nutrition Grant Program reflects a growing recognition of the role housing providers can play in addressing broader public health and equity issues. With this investment, MassHousing is helping to create healthier, more resilient communities across Massachusetts.

Read the entire article on Boston Real Estate Times here.

The post In Boston Real Estate Times: MassHousing Awards $150,000 to Support Healthy Food Access in Rental Housing Communities appeared first on Madison Park Development Corporation.

“The Way We Were: Roxbury Black Wall Street 1900-1965” will feature “exhibits, stories, and youth programs to honor legacy and inspire the future,” according to the Eventbrite listing.

Each event, taking place at various locations each day between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., will explore a different aspect of Roxbury’s Black Wall Street.

“Roxbury’s Black Wall Street is more than history—it is a legacy of resilience,
brilliance, and community pride that our youth, residents, and community as a whole should embrace. This conference is a celebration of the past and a call to action for the future,” said event organizer Marie Firmin in a statement.

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Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba made today’s announcement at the Talbot Bernard Senior Homes, a previous award recipient of a grant through the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. The organization that manages the Talbot Bernard Senior Homes, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC), is receiving $850,000 in awards from this round of the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to support the development of 42 units of affordable housing across two sites in Dorchester.

“The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund helps local partners meet their economic development goals by bringing blighted or vacant sites back into productive use for housing and commercial development,” said Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “This is an important state resource for cleaning up contaminated properties to benefit our residents and communities now and into the future.”

“MassDevelopment is proud to administer the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth and partner closely with municipalities, community development corporations, and other nonprofit organizations as they work to revitalize challenging properties in their communities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “Today’s awards will clear the way for hundreds of new housing units, new commercial spaces, and more, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects bring for families, seniors, and neighborhoods across Massachusetts. We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners in the legislature for their support of this key program.”

MassDevelopment oversees the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, which was created in 1998 to transform contaminated and underused industrial or commercial properties by funding or financing their environmental assessment and remediation towards redevelopment.

Today’s awards were provided as rolling round grants, which are available year-round on a case-by-case basis to eligible community development corporations, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities seeking environmental assessment or remediation of sites with active projects. MassDevelopment’s website features a Notice of Funding Availability with details on how to apply for this category of assistance.

“The Talbot Bernard Senior Housing and Homes community, where today’s event was held, demonstrates the important role the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund has played over the past 25-plus years in helping organizations like ours unlock key parcels for housing,” said Gail Latimore, Executive Director of the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation. “We are glad to be receiving $850,000 in awards today to remediate two additional sites and bring 42 new affordable apartments to our corner of Dorchester.”

“Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing these important investments in creating housing. I am proud to support the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund grant in the state budget as I know the impact these grants make in our communities,” said Senator Nick Collins, First Suffolk. “Congratulations to the recipients. Your work is a vital step toward transforming underused properties into vibrant, sustainable spaces that benefit communities and the environment. We look forward to seeing the impact of your efforts.”

“I am thankful to the Governor and her team for continuing to build more affordable housing. The redevelopment of sites creates healthier and more vibrant communities while expanding opportunities for job creation,” said Representative Russell Holmes, 6^th Suffolk.

Read the entire press release here.

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Since its inception in 2012, the CITC program has been an integral source of funding for CDCs and CSOs to support programming that includes affordable housing development and preservation, community planning and economic development initiatives, homeownership assistance, financial education, foreclosure prevention and savings programs, and job training and job creation programs.

“Community Development Corporations are on the front lines of solving our housing and economic challenges, and this investment ensures they have the tools to keep doing that critical work,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This funding will be used by trusted community organizations to support housing development, help more families buy and stay in their homes and create new jobs.”

“With this expanded and permanent funding for the CITC program, we’re ensuring that every corner of the state has resources to build housing and drive economic development,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This is a smart, community-driven approach to building economic security and housing opportunities.”

“The CITC program empowers local organizations to build more housing, support working families, and drive economic growth across Massachusetts,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “By expanding the CITC program, this Administration is doubling down on local innovation and long-term impact.”

The CITC Program offers a 50% refundable state tax credit that provides an incentive for donors to contribute funds to CDCs and CSOs. The program enables residents and stakeholders to work with CDCs and partner with nonprofit, public, and private entities to improve economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income households and other residents in urban, rural, and suburban communities across the state. CDCs accomplish this through adoption of Community Investment Plans (CIP) to undertake community development programs, policies and activities.

Read the full announcement here.

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But Silvera’s first love was the theater. A member of The Actors Studio, he once co-starred as the Italian father to characters played by Ben Gazzara and Anthony Franciosa in the Broadway play “A Hatful of Rain,” where he was said to have saved the job of a mouthy young understudy named Steve McQueen. In 1955, Silvera started the Theatre of Being Workshop, using his television and movie earnings to fund productions starring Black actors. After his passing in 1970, friend Morgan Freeman co-founded the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop. A close colleague of Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier, Silvera was a mentor to many. But Lisa and Alison Simmons, the artistic directors and programmers of the Roxbury International Film Festival, knew him as Uncle Frank.

“He was family. Isn’t that cool?” said Lisa Simmons over the phone from RoxFilm headquarters. “As you go about your life and your career, you do things because you’re passionate about them. Then you’re like, ‘Oh wait, my relatives did this like 50 years ago!’ Uncle Frank’s focus was supporting Black actors and I guess we’re following in his footsteps.”

That’s why this year’s 27th annual Roxbury International Film Festival will be holding a tribute to Silvera on Thursday, June 26 at MassArt, with the actor’s daughter (and the Simmons sisters’ cousin) Linda Silvera in attendance. It’s one of the dozens of events, panels, workshops and hangouts over the 10 days from Thursday, June 19 through Friday, June 27 showcasing more than a hundred shorts and features at an array of venues including Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, Dudley Street’s historic Hibernian Hall and Roxbury’s Haley House. As always with RoxFilm, the emphasis is on community and interaction. Every evening ends with a filmmaker hangout, where artists, friends and fans can rub elbows, ask questions and foster fellowship — a commodity that feels especially precious in these tempestuous times.

“There’s so much that just hurts my heart,” Simmons said. “We talk a lot about arts as activism. How can you use arts and culture to help people understand and get connected to certain issues? I think film is a great way to do that. We always talk about film as a catalyst for conversation and we have built into the festival opportunities to have deeper discussions around these film screenings. We’re bringing in people from organizations that are doing work in these spaces to do Q&As with the community.”

RoxFilm’s much-loved “Dinner and a Movie” program returns this year to Haley House with a screening of “The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Mortality” (June 23), followed by a conversation with maternal health professionals. “I think we need to be constantly talking about this issue, especially when we’re looking at cuts in health care and the loss of hospitals and health centers,” explained Simmons. “This is very much an issue that’s front and center for Black and brown people, and this is a great film narrated by Viola Davis that talks about ways in which people are trying to counter this terrible situation.”

They’ve also brought back last year’s hugely successful Senior Lunch Screening (June 24). “This was my sister Alison, the co-director’s brainchild. We would get questions about bringing these films to the senior communities, so she asked, ‘Why don’t we do a free lunch for the seniors in Boston? Anyone really can come, but the focus is to provide an opportunity for senior citizens to come out and have a discussion and we’ll provide box lunches for them,” Simmons said. “It was a great success last year. The filmmaker was over the moon having this audience.”

Read the entire story as it originally appeared on WBUR here.

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