After years of planning, three major redevelopment projects that are expected to transform Uphams Corner will converge on a single stretch of Columbia Road starting next year. Observers say the work could mark a turning point for a busy crossroads of the city that is already home to the vibrant Strand Theatre and other bustling businesses, but has the potential for many more opportunities with the proper investments.
“I think all the projects give a lot of momentum there,” said city Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon, who noted the city has funded all three projects in some form. “They are saving historic facades on some of them and so it’s new architecture and new buildings, but we will still be able to point to Uphams Corner and recognize it.
“I think the city is making a very, very sizable investment in these projects because it’s a way of strengthening Uphams Corner without bringing the associated displacement or gentrification of an area.”
The multiple projects for the neighborhood, which was designated an “Arts & Innovation” district in a planning process that was launched in 2017, include Columbia Crossing, which will reimagine the former Dorchester Savings Bank building at 572 Columbia Rd.; a new Boston Public Library branch with 33-units of affordable housing attached that will be built next to the Strand; and Fox Hall, an existing building at 554-562 Columbia Rd. that will be renovated to include new housing units with a modern building and more units slated to be built next door.
The three projects combined are expected to bring roughly $129 million in investment dollars into the heart of Uphams Corner.
Columbia Crossing development, with a new Glow Box art space next to the restored Dorchester Savings Bank façade, will front Columbia Road and add new construction of residential units in the back. The project is set to start construction soon. Image courtesy Dorchester Bay EDC
COLUMBIA CROSSING
The $50 million project, a co-development by Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), will likely be the first project to begin early in the year.
Work crews have been doing soil testing, site work, and securing the existing building for construction work in recent weeks.
The design of the mixed-use building features a glass box dubbed the “Glow Box” art space alongside the preservation of the Dorchester Savings Bank façade, with community space initially tabbed for the long-time community organization Design Studio for Social Intervention (ds4si). The bank building will stay in place next to a new building that will rise above it and contain 48 affordable housing units between 30 and 80 percent AMI with 20 percent set aside for artists.
“Columbia Crossing reflects our community’s vision for affordable homes, dedicated artist housing, and shared space for creative expression,” said Dorchester Bay EDC CEO Kimberly R. Lyle. “It will be a vibrant hub for activity and a source of neighborhood pride in the heart of Uphams Corner, strengthening DBEDC’s commitment to affordability, cultural identity, and stability. The development builds on and invests in Uphams Corner’s status as a rising Arts & Innovation district.”
Aaron Gornstein, a former state housing official who now serves as CEO of POAH, said being the first project sparks much-needed momentum to “advance the goals of the Upham’s Arts & Cultural District.”
A new development on former city land next to the Post Office will feature much needed homeownership opportunities and a new Uphams Corner Branch Library, which in the final designs has become a more prominent feature of the building. The project could break ground next summer.
A NEW LIBRARY BRANCH WITH HOUSING ABOVE
Across the street from Columbia Crossing, at 555-559 Columbia Rd., a new 18,000 square-foot Boston Public Library branch will arise, with 33 condominium units set above it. The $31 million project will preserve the façade of a former Bank of America building next to what is still a busy US Postal Service office for 02125. The as-yet unnamed complex is being developed by Civico Development. It won approvals from the city’s Planning Department in November.
Civico’s Taylor Bearden said his Worcester-based company was attracted to develop its first Boston project because of the library component. It’s a concept they “believe in wholeheartedly,” he said.
After several design changes, Bearden said, they have reverted to an original design with glass façade, brick exterior, and a more prominent library space – as well as a breaking up of the building into different masses. They also added some design elements like saw-tooth cornice and an accordion design. At their last public meeting, the revised look was well received.
“We pushed the second story back, which makes the library much more identifiable, and so the real design solution we needed to deploy was something that made it a landmark on that corner,” said Bearden. “You have to carve that out and make sure it shows. I think we achieved that and more.”
Earlier this month, Gov. Healey signed special legislation authored by satte Sen. Nick Collins and state Rep. Chris Worrell allowing the library and housing to exist in tandem on the former city-owned properties.
One potential flashpoint was removing 21 parking spaces that were in the original plan. “Ultimately it was necessary to manage the cost of the building because it is an affordable homeownership project,” he noted. “We can do all the value engineering we want, but the really big cost was parking. Interestingly, I don’t think I heard more than one comment.”
Bearden said they are waiting on a final state-funding piece to get the project to construction.
“That is the decisive piece, then we’ll prepare for the delivery of construction drawings and start next summer, hopefully,” he said.
Matt Mittelstadt, managing director of EA Fish Development, took over the Fox Hall project in late summer and purchased it last month. The long-time affordable housing developers have resurrected the struggling project and are excited to be part of the corridor’s facelift. Seth Daniel photo
NEW DEVELOPER FOR FOX HALL
Last summer it looked like a plan to re-purpose the historic Fox Hall at 554-562 Columbia Rd was dead. A previous owner— Mike Rooney— had planned to repurpose the existing four-story property and build a new building at the rear of the site to include 71 units of affordable housing. Rooney’s $45 million plan won city approvals but the project’s financing stalled— and the property was sold at auction to a buyer who was not committed to building-out the planned units.
In November, a new team led by EA Fish Development took charge by buying the property for $5 million. Matt Mittelstadt, managing director of EA Fish, which was founded by his late stepfather, Ed Fish, said they hope to break ground in early 2027 on the renovation and new construction at the corner of Arion Street.
The program remains the same – 50 units of affordable senior housing (ages 62 and over) between 30 and 60 percent AMI with some units set aside for formerly homeless, all in a new building on the back parking lot.
“Our company mentality is life is too short to do a project that ends up in court or having abutters that don’t want you there,” Mittelstadt told The Reporter in an interview last week. “Mike Rooney did an excellent job of permitting the project and The Architectural Team did a great design on the project. I’m thrilled to be a member of the community long-term as we have been in other nearby areas. There’s so much going on here culturally and corporately that it was very easy to get comfortable with this project and take it on.”
Current retail tenants like Singh’s Roti Shop will remain in place, he said, and 15 single room occupancy units will be updated into studio units within the existing Fox Hall building.
With permits already in hand, the new development team is now seeking state funding, which they hope to secure in March 2026. In the meantime, they will work on loose ends like a transportation agreement. They believe they can start construction in 14 months.
The Uphams project fits into their wheelhouse of large, complex, and affordable housing projects. Previous developments include sites in Grove Hall, and, decades ago, the iconic Admiral’s Hill project in Chelsea.
“That is the dream,” he said. “We would be fully in a position to execute on that timeline using those months to have The Architectural Team advance the drawings and take it to construction document phase.
“I am thrilled to be long-term involved in Uphams Corner because of so many things happening with the public infrastructure, the coming library branch, and being next to POAH and Civico that are community sensitive developers like us,” he added.
The city’s Dillon said the three heavily-residential projects, along with recently completed work like the Dorchester Bay EDC headquarters a block away and the award-winning Comfort Kitchen restaurant nearby, will give the Uphams Corner a big boost.
“The new residential will support the businesses, but there will also be new civic spaces with the gallery and library to enhance the livability and excitement of the area,” she said. “Yet at the same time the combination of these developments has been very, very thoughtfully done.”
