March 23, 2012
57 low-income elderly housing units unveiled in Dudley Square
By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent
ROXBURY – A $15 million housing complex with 57 one-bedroom apartment units for low-income seniors officially opened in Roxbury’s Dudley Square this week, officials said.
Developed by local nonprofit Central Boston Elder Services and built by Suffolk Construction, project officials said the 50,500 square-foot Dudley Elderly Housing Development Dudley, drew applications from more than 450 seniors who wanted to live there.
“What a heartbreaking day it was when we held the lottery to pick our new tenants and hundreds and hundreds of seniors showed up,” the elderly services organization director Catherine Hardaway said in a statement. “It truly points to the dire situation our low-income seniors in Boston find themselves in.”
The seven-story complex built next to CBES’ headquarters at 2311 Washington St. is reserved for residents 62 and older. It was formally unveiled at a ribbon-cutting Monday afternoon attended by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other local elected officials and community leaders, officials said.
Rents range from $254 to $1,156 a month. Each apartment at the elderly housing facility is about 540 square feet with some larger handicapped-accessible units. There are private baths, kitchen and walk-in closets, the developer said. Common areas include a library and TV room.
“It has been a long-time coming,” Hardaway’s statement said. “Finally, after years of work, the day has come to watch our new tenants move in. The best part is the look on their faces when they see their new homes. What a source of pride for all of us.”
The creation included help from architect Chia-Ming Sze and five funders: the National Equity Fund, Inc.; the state’s housing and community development department; MassHousing; Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and the city’s neighborhood development department, officials said.
“We are thrilled to help finance such a remarkable seniors’ development supported by one of Boston’s leaders in elder services,” said a statement from Deborah Burkart, vice president of specialized housing for National Equity Fund. “It’s so rewarding to partner with an agency that shares our vision of promoting seniors’ independence and quality of life.”
E-mail Matt Rocheleau at mjrochele@gmail.com.
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© 2012 NY Times Co.
URL: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/roxbury/2012/03/57_low-income_elderly_housing.html