Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC; www.ahscinc.org), a nonprofit organization that owns and develops affordable rental communities, announces that construction has begun on a 91-unit affordable family housing project on Columbia Avenue in Dorchester.
The preservation/rehabilitation project, known as Columbia-Uphams, consists of two separate buildings, Columbia West Apartments and Uphams Corner Apartments. The buildings are being combined into a single project, which when completed will contain 91 rehabilitated affordable units, ranging in size from studios to three-bedroom units and will include units reserved for special populations.
AHSC first acquired the ownership interest of Uphams Corner Apartments, a 45-unit building, in 2018, followed in 2020 by ownership interest in the 46-unit Columbia West Apartments. Following the acquisitions, AHSC, along with longtime strategic partner Peabody Properties, submitted a financing plan to Mass Housing, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), and the City of Boston to consolidate both properties under one ownership entity controlled by AHSC. New financing was sought through the use of federal and state low-income housing tax credits and historic tax credit equity, as well as new construction/permanent and subordinate debt, with the EOHLC approving the funding application in 2023. AHSC closed on the property on September 27.
Uphams Corner Apartments
With construction underway, the project is scheduled to be completed by June of 2025. Once constructed, Peabody Properties will manage the affordable family housing complex.
“We are beyond pleased to announce that construction on Columbia-Uphams has begun,” said Michael Mattos, President/Executive Director of Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. “This development represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide safe affordable housing for families. This project will not only serve to address the critical housing shortage but will also foster a vibrant, inclusive community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact Columbia-Uphams will have on residents and the Dorchester community.”
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 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
