Sustaining a Community – Uphams Crossing

By USGBC Communications

What’s the best way to redevelop a prominent site in the business district of a community that sorely needs housing options? In the case of the former St. Kevin’s Parish in Dorchester, Mass., the answer was the creation of a mixed-income residential campus called Uphams Crossing, a development integrating adaptive re-use and new construction into the uniquely landscaped existing parish grounds. With the creative financial stewardship of the Planning Office of Urban Affairs (POUA), safe and affordable housing has been delivered to the Upham’s Corner community.

Dorchester is one of Boston’s largest and most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. But it also has a history as one of the city’s most distressed. More than 20 percent of its residents live near the poverty line, and it has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the area. The St. Kevin’s site in the heart of Dorchester’s business dis-trict, known as Upham’s Corner, presented an ideal location to create a mixed-income residential complex. POUA led an innovative project team that could address the housing issue through a creative vision for serving the Dorchester community.

The result is a mixed-income complex with 60 units of workforce housing for people who contribute to the local economy, such as teachers, technicians and service industry workers. Additionally, 20 units of permanent affordable housing were set aside for formerly homeless individuals or families. Supporting the residential units is a full-time onsite manager, as well as office space for St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children, an onsite provider of supportive services. A multi-use community room was designed to provide space for resident programs and hosting neighborhood community meetings. All of these services are centrally located in a spacious common area that also holds two resident lounges, an exercise room, computer learning center, bike storage and a central laundry.

Uphams Crossing is within walking distance of convenient public transit with multiple city bus lines and the Upham’s Corner commuter rail. New housing here opens up numerous opportunities for residents, making it easier to engage with the commercial heart of Dorchester and bringing people closer to necessary services. At the project’s grand opening, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh described Uphams Crossing as “a place that serves a compassionate, value-driven community. One of the great things about Boston,” he continued, “is it preserves its past and prepares for its future.” The project team couldn’t agree more.

For 45 years, the architecture, masterplanning and interior design firm, The Architectural Team, Inc. (TAT), has been recognized for its thought leadership, diverse portfolio of acclaimed design solutions and creating lasting transformation in the communities they serve. The 90-person firm has earned more than 100 awards for design excellence across a broad range of building types and programs; including: new construction of large-scale urban mixed use developments, multifamily, commercial, waterfront and hospitality developments, assisted and senior living facilities, and community centers. TAT also holds a national reputation in the areas of historic preservation, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse that has transformed neighborhoods across the United States, artfully restoring and reimagining neglected buildings for new uses while simultaneously preserving history.

Congratulations to TAT, USGBC MA Chapter Sponsor, on this wonderful project!