Work on the second phase of an affordable housing complex near Codman Square – where two 4-story buildings will rise on vacant lots at 151 Spencer St. and 25 New England Ave. – is ready to begin this spring.
Talbot Commons II will bring an additional 42 units online by next year, according to the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp. (NDC), which is leading the $32 million project with WNC Associates.
The buildings will resemble the nearby 40-unit Talbot Commons project on Norfolk Avenue, which broke ground in 2020 and is currently 100 percent occupied, with a 400-household waitlist.
The properties on Spencer Street and New England Avenue were approved by the city of Boston in late 2020 but were held up by financing difficulties until recently.
The buildings will provide affordable housing targeting families at various levels beneath the area median income (AMI).
Eight units will receive project-based Section 8 vouchers, and another eight will be a part of the Massachusetts Rental Voucher program. Additionally, nine units will be set aside for households formerly experiencing homelessness.
The Spencer Street site will include 5 one-bedrooms, 10 two-bedroom, and 4 three-bedroom units. The New England Avenue site will provide 6 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom, and 5 three-bedroom units.
Residents will be able to access several on-site wraparound services provided by Codman Square NDC. Services will be focused on case management, digital literacy and employment support, as well as financial coaching and housing education.
“We believe that affordable housing should be a foundation for stability, personal growth, and community connection,” said Kiele Mauricio, project manager at Codman Square NDC. “As such, with each of our projects, our goal is to create a community where residents feel safe, secure, proud, and can exercise independent action in governing their lives and making their residence a true home.”
