Officials have closed on the financing for the construction of a new $62 million apartment development and $8 million in major infrastructure work for the redevelopment of the Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex in Boston.
Led by WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority, the move kicks off the first phase of the much-anticipated 3,300-unit, large-scale mixed-income and mixed-use project.
When completed in the fall of 2026, the first 112,000-square-foot building will provide 94 modern apartments for low-income families currently living at the Mary Ellen McCormack community, offering 37 one-, 44 two-, 12 three-, and one four-bedroom units.
"Winn has involved the residents and tenant task force in every step of the development process. Input from residents has touched every aspect of Building A, from the playground equipment in Veterans Park to the layout of units and interior finishes. I am very proud of this partnership and cannot wait to see the smiles on the residents' faces when they move into their new, affordable homes," said Carol Sullivan, executive director of the Mary Ellen McCormack Task Force.
In addition to providing needed affordable housing, the Building A project will promote connections between Mary Ellen McCormack and the surrounding South Boston neighborhoods. It will deliver important public benefits, including a new Veterans Park with an accessible tot lot and splash pad, a two-way separated bike lane, as well as reconfigured public streets and associated intersections with pedestrian enhancements, new street trees, planting areas, and pedestrian zones, according to officials.
“For almost nine decades, Mary Ellen McCormack has been a cornerstone of Boston’s commitment to affordable housing,” said Boston mayor Michelle Wu. “Today, we take a major step forward in ensuring that this historic community remains a vibrant, inclusive home for generations to come. This first phase of redevelopment will deliver modern, sustainable housing while strengthening connections to the surrounding neighborhood, enhancing public spaces, and building a more resilient future for South Boston.”
Built during the Great Depression and opened in 1938, Mary Ellen McCormack is one of the largest public housing developments in New England, consisting of 1,016 deeply subsidized apartments across 35 buildings. Under the revitalization plan approved in December 2023, a new 3,300-unit mixed-income and mixed-use community, including more than 70,000 square feet of retail and a new community center, will be built over the next two decades. The community center will be named after former BHA administrator Bill McGonagle and operated in partnership with the Greater Boston YMCA.
Existing buildings will be demolished in phases as part of a complex relocation strategy choreographed to allow most existing households to move directly into new apartments. The BHA will retain ownership of the land to preserve permanent affordability for low-income families, while management, ownership, and maintenance of the buildings will be assumed by WinnCompanies. All 1,016 public housing units will be replaced on-site, and all current residents have a right to return to new apartments. The tenant-paid portion of the rent will not change. Winn will pay for basic utilities for affordable households.
Building A will be built about 600 feet from the Andrew Square MBTA Red Line subway station, using an efficient U-shaped design with heights that step down from six to four stories. It is designed to be passive house certified; it also will utilize all-electric systems and Winn and BHA’s first joint geothermal system with ground source pumps for heating and cooling.
“This first building jump-starts an ambitious and inspired undertaking many years in the making that will ultimately give rise to a new mixed-income and mixed-use neighborhood,” said WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn. “This Community of Opportunity will serve as a national model in how it thoughtfully fosters economic social and environmental success over the long term for its 9,000 residents and surrounding Boston neighborhoods. We are excited to start work on transforming this 30-acre site, standing alongside our federal, state, and city supporters; our nonprofit allies; and our partners at the Boston Housing Authority and the tenant-led task force.”
WinnCompanies and BHA assembled multiple sources of financing for the development, starting with Bank of America, which is providing a construction loan as well as federal low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) and energy credit equity.
Additional funding includes a tax-exempt bridge loan and tax-exempt first mortgage loan from MassHousing; a subordinate loan from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund maintained by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities; a subordinate loan from the BHA; state LIHTC equity from Bank of America; and a loan from BlueHub Capital. Robinson+Cole served as transaction counsel. The city of Boston has also committed significant funding toward future buildings in the redevelopment.
“This milestone represents our unwavering commitment to the families of Mary Ellen McCormack,” BHA administrator Kenzie Bok said. “We are not only preserving deeply affordable homes but also creating a new, thriving mixed-income community to which current residents will have the right to return. With this first building, we are laying the foundation for a neighborhood that will be greener, more connected, and full of opportunity for all.”
WinnDevelopment vice president Andrew Colbert is leading permitting and overseeing the construction effort—the largest in the company’s 54-year history. Lee Kennedy Co. is serving as general contractor for the construction in a joint venture with H.J. Russell & Co. The Architectural Team is the architect for the project.
Once Building A is completed, financing will be secured for and construction will begin on Building B, which will offer 300 mixed-income apartments, and Building C, which will offer 196 mixed-income apartments, with 172 units reserved for seniors, and on-site supportive services.
