WORCESTER—Friday, crews began the demolition of the Curtis Apartments for the much-anticipated redevelopment of this 372-unit public housing complex.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus on May 21 joined the Worcester Housing Authority, city officials and Trinity Financial to celebrate the redevelopment of the complex into modern living spaces.
Part of the Worcester Housing Authority’s state-funded public housing, Curtis Apartments was originally built in the early 1950s to house returning veterans and their families. The redevelopment project aims to demolish and replace these buildings with 529 new apartments, featuring a mix of income restrictions.
The new development will include 53 fully accessible units. Officials recently celebrated the commencement of phase one, the first of four phases, expected to be completed by February 2025, with the entire project slated for completion by 2032.
The new apartments will feature the latest in energy-efficient and climate-resilient construction, ensuring they serve both current and future residents. Additionally, the redevelopment will offer easy access to public transit, increased greenspace, and safe pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Public housing residents deserve well-maintained living spaces with access to the transportation and other services they need to succeed,” said Governor Healey in a statement. “For far too long, our aging public housing has been neglected. With proper investment and a focus on building more livable communities, we can lift up not only those in public housing, but all of our communities at large.”
Massachusetts has more than 43,000 units of housing in its state-managed public housing system with more than 70,000 residents living in those public housing buildings, according to the Worcester Housing Authority. The Affordable Homes Act filed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration last fall includes historic funding increases to public housing. Included in the bill’s $4 billion in spending and 28 policy changes, the Affordable Homes Act authorizes $1.6 billion to rehabilitate the state’s public housing.
“Through projects like the Curtis Apartments, we’re building stronger communities where people can raise their families in beautiful and safe neighborhoods and where older residents can enjoy stability and comfort,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll in an announcement.
Curtis Apartments is the second-oldest property at the Worcester Housing Authority. Built in the early 1950s, the complex includes multiple outdated concrete and masonry buildings which have outlived their usefulness. The are no dedicated green spaces, no elevators and no sprinklers.
Trinity Financial was picked by the Worcester Housing Authority Board of Commissioners as the developer for the Curtis Apartments project. For reference, Trinity also developed the old Worcester County Courthouse into the residential living space Courthouse Lofts, which offers apartments to a variety of income levels.
“The redevelopment of Curtis Apartments aligns perfectly with the Governor’s housing strategy and could not be done without the support of the Healey Administration and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities,” said WHA CEO Alex Corrales in an announcement.
The total cost of the development is estimated at $360 million. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is supporting the project with $13.6 million in state low-income tax credits, $10 million in subsidies, $5 million from the Public Housing Innovations Program as well as $2.2 million from the Moving to Work Fund.
“Trinity Financial is thrilled to partner with the Worcester Housing Authority in the revitalization of Curtis Apartments,” said Vice President of Development Michael Lozano in a press release “This project will create a new neighborhood, providing affordable housing for families across a wide range of incomes in comfortable, sustainable, and attractive new buildings.”
Send news releases to Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
