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Jackson Square could get a 65-unit affordable apartment building
By adamg on Fri, 07/12/2019 - 9:59am
Urban Edge Housing Corp. is getting ready to file plans to replace two "distressed" commercial buildings on Columbus Avenue with a six-story building in which all 65 apartments would be rented as affordable.
In a letter of intent filed with the BPDA yesterday, Urban Edge says its proposal for 1595-1599 Columbus Ave., just south of Centre Street, would include a lot with 21 parking spaces and first-floor retail space.
The new building would sit on a roughly half-acre lot.
1595-1599 Columbus Ave. letter of intent (26k PDF).
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Comments
Build it!
I'm sure someone will have a complaint about this, but it seems to hit every item on the checklist. Transit-friendly, affordable, a big improvement over the existing buildings. Go!
Big improvement?
How can you even tell without any drawings? Let's wait for some plans and renderings first.
You obviously have not driven or walked by this location
Anything is better than what is currently there.
You're right.
Took one look on street view and I was very clearly wrong.
Too bad the transit isn't
Too bad the transit isn't friendly.
Affordable
What is affordable?
HOW MUCH PER HOUR DO YOU NEED TO MAKE IN ORDER TO AFFORD AFFORDABLE?
HOW MUCH SHOULD I HAVE SAVED BEFORE I TRY TO BUY AFFORDABLE?
Because affordable for someone who makes 80k a year isn’t affordable for somebody who makes 17/hour
It’s trick semantics. I work for a developer and used to volunteer at mass affordable housing alliance.
Nobody ever answers the call to define “affordable” it’s a bait word.
HERE'S YOUR ANSWER
The BPDA has to define what constitutes "affordable" every year, and here are the 2019 numbers.
It's not a truly simple answer, because it depends on family size and because the BPDA gives developers some flexibility as to the percentage of the area median income their units will go for (I think they can go up to 100%); non-profit development corporations generally include some units at the lower end of the scale.
If up to 100% of median income = affordable,
then "affordable" doesn't mean a damn thing. [Or, I suppose, it means that "up to at least half of renters can't afford it."]
Nice try
Well, if you volunteered at an affordable housing organization then you must be very familiar with what Urban Edge does then, shouldn't you?
So there's your answer.
Something tells me
you'd be screaming at us in ALL CAPS no matter what word was used. But while we're on the subject, please do make some suggestions.
Build it asap
n/t
Urban Edge
I worked with Urban Edge. I hope the developers/contractors don't mind getting paid late.
Where on Google can I find
Where on Google can I find what the City of Boston identifies as "affordable" . I know it's not Section 8, or low income. What is required to be a tenant of an "affordable" apartment. And please, I'm not looking for any sarcastic replies, or anger posts. I sincerely would like to read the law.
Just scroll up
Look for the comment headlined HERE'S YOUR ANSWER.