New development breaks ground for affordable housing

Serghino René

The historic rehabilitation of an abandoned hospital and construction of two new buildings is now underway in Mattapan.

Located on River Street, the redevelopment of the former Boston Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital campus marks the project’s third phase.

Mattapan Heights III includes the development of 73 units of affordable housing and a new 5,000-square-foot facility for the Mattapan Adult Day Health (ADH) program.

All of the units will be available to households with incomes of up to 60 percent of the area’s median income of $35,000-$50,000 per year, according to a spokesman for real estate development firm Trinity Financial, the project’s developer. Rents will range from $900 to $1,100 a month.

The development includes the use of green space interwoven with walking paths and benches. The landscaped space is designed to serve as the development’s center and connects with the walking paths and open space already in place in Phase 2.

A total of 95 parking spaces, including seven parking spaces for the ADH Program, will be developed for residents and visitors of Mattapan Heights III.

“Mattapan Heights III is an important development for the Mattapan community,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “With the continued revitalization of this community jewel, Boston residents will be able to afford to live, work and retire in the community.”

In November 1999, Trinity Financial was designated to develop 27 acres of the 52-acre campus. Since that time, Trinity has completed the first two phases.

In June 2003, the first phase of redevelopment was completed. Phase 1 included construction of 98 units of mixed-income housing for assisted-living and independent-living seniors at the Foley Senior Residences, as well as 18 units of supportive housing for Entre Familia, a recovery program for Latina women and their children.

In October 2005, Phase 2 of the campus redevelopment plan was completed. Mattapan Heights II comprises the historic restoration of five long-abandoned ward buildings on the campus, which have been transformed into 83 units of affordable rental housing.

Mattapan Heights III will be completed in spring 2008.

“The project will create more affordable housing opportunities,” said Ashani Collins O’Mard, program manager for Trinity Financial. “It’s no surprise that people are oftentimes not able to live where they work. By creating affordable housing, you provide people with the means to live close to where they work or grew up.”