The Walnut Street Joint Venture, comprised of Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC), a nonprofit organization that owns and develops affordable rental communities, Peabody Properties, one of the preeminent property management and development companies in the affordable housing industry, and Onyx Group Development, a certified Women & Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) real estate firm with expertise in brokerage and a passion for affordable housing, hosted a June 24th groundbreaking ceremony for Walnut Knoll at 51 Walnut Street in Foxborough.
The 200-unit affordable rental housing development for seniors is situated on a 16-acre parcel at the corner of Walnut Street and Route 140. The phased 40B affordable housing project will encompass 141 rental units in Phase One and an additional 59 rental units in Phase Two. Each phase will provide a broad range of affordability from 30% up to 80% of the Area Median Income.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by an estimated 75 local and state officials and members of the community, including U.S. Congressman Jake Auchincloss, State Senator Paul Feeney, State Senator Liz Miranda, State Representative Jay Barrows, Foxborough Town Manager Paige Duncan, Foxborough Housing Authority Chairman Greg Spier, and representatives of the AHSC, Peabody Properties, and Onyx Group Development and Realty project development team.
Michael Mattos, president and executive director of AHSC, thanked and congratulated all entities involved in “making this project happen.”
“Everyone has worked together to make this important endeavor move along as quickly as possible from funding to permitting to construction,” said Mattos, extending special thanks to “area neighbors and abutters.”
Chanda Smart, CEO of Onyx Group Development
Chanda Smart, CEO of Onyx Group Development and Realty, expressed gratitude to the Foxborough community for its support of this much-needed project.
Heather Calcagni, director of revenue management and marketing at Peabody Properties, thanked all involved in the collaborative effort.
“From the very start of the Walnut Knoll project, the synergy between the development team, the town of Foxborough and the community has been remarkable with everyone in agreement about the importance of providing high-quality affordable housing for our senior population,” said Calcagni.
“This project addresses the largest statewide concern – the housing shortage and the importance of affordable housing for our senior citizens,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss.
State Representative Jay Barrows addressed “the collaboration with neighboring towns to enable this project to move forward” while State Senator Paul Feeney noted that the project “will serve as a model for other districts across the state who will use this project as a blueprint for similar projects across the Commonwealth.”
Also speaking were Foxborough Housing Authority Chairman Greg Spier, one of the key contributors and champions of the project, and Foxborough Town Manager Paige Duncan.
For more information about Walnut Knoll please visit https://livewalnutknoll.com.
About Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC)
Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC; www.ahscinc.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2001 to develop affordable housing, as well as to promote and enhance the quality of life for residents of affordable housing. AHSC works with its strategic partners to establish a leadership role in the preservation and creation of affordable rental communities.
For the past 20-plus years, AHSC has been involved in many complex affordable housing developments involving new construction, historic adaptive reuse, and occupied rehabilitation. Throughout its history, the organization has been involved with 30 projects, which have helped to keep over 2,500 units affordable, as well as helped create 179 new supportive housing units within four communities for formerly homeless veterans.
Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. is located at 536 Granite Street, Third Floor, Braintree, MA 02184. For more information, please call 781-794-1095 or visit www.ahscinc.org.
About the Peabody Companies
Headquartered at 536 Granite Street, Braintree, Massachusetts, The Peabody Companies and its affiliates – Peabody Properties, Peabody Resident Services, Peabody Supportive Housing, Peabody Real Estate, and Peabody Miami – represent a legacy of excellence in the real estate sector. Founded in 1976 and led by Karen Fish-Will and Melissa Fish-Crane, this full-service, award-winning real estate firm is an Accredited Management Organization (AMO) that oversees more than 14,650 housing units across New England, with additional properties in New Jersey and Florida.
Peabody Properties, a cornerstone of the group, specializes in property management, demonstrating a remarkable blend of quality service and expertise. Peabody Resident Services, a unique arm of the company, underscores a deep commitment to enhancing resident experiences by focusing exclusively on developing supportive services and programs for affordable housing communities.
As a Women Business Enterprise (WBE), certified by the Massachusetts State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA), The Peabody Companies has been recognized for its dedication to diversity and inclusion. This commitment is further evidenced by their ranking on the 2023 National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) Affordable 100 List and their repeated recognition as a Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023.
Discover more about The Peabody Companies’ impactful real estate journey and community-driven initiatives at http://www.wearepeabody.com Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagr
ABOUT ONYXGROUP Development, LLC
ONYXGROUP is a Massachusetts based Black woman owned, People focused, Forward thinking, Culturally Competent & Inclusive Development company with a mission to build quality affordable housing while providing intentional specialized focus on equity and inclusion of local residents. To learn more, please visit www.onyxbos.com.
