Breathing New Life Into a Neglected Area
We were pleased to work closely with Jamaica Plain NDC on this mixed-use project to further its mission of developing affordable housing that allows people to thrive, and providing services that help people build on their strengths. Developed with input from community members and business owners, the project offers three floors of safe and vibrant affordable housing. The program includes retail and office space at the street level for community resources and local small businesses, including a restaurant to serve local residents.
Location
Jamaica Plain, MA
Client
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
Size / Area
40,000 SF
Certifications
LEED Certifiable, Energy Star
Units
30
Bringing People and Places Together
Developed as a sustainable, transit-oriented community, 270 Center St. is adjacent to the Jackson Square T Station and the Southwest Corridor Park, allowing people easy access to their jobs and other community services. Spanning Centre, Wise, and Lamartine Streets, the building is a bridge between the small-scale one- and two-family homes of Wise Street and the seven-story Mildred C. Hailey Housing Development.
Beautiful Exteriors Enhance the Neighborhood
The façade has a rhythm of multi-story corrugated metal bays that break the building massing and relate to nearby houses. Facing Jackson Square, the corner bay is curved, with a prow above made of a vegetated screen. The brick exterior at the streets gives way to fiber-cement clapboard at the rear.
Healthy and Efficient Interiors
The building is designed to minimize fossil fuel use, preserve natural resources, and maximize daylight and indoor air quality. It meets Energy Star and LEED standards with a high-performance envelope and energy-efficient systems. The design includes passive solar strategies: the long elevations face north and south, and natural light and ventilation are maximized with large operable windows. The roof incorporates a 25kW photovoltaic array providing electricity to the building, and we added drought-resistant vegetation to reduce the heat island effect.
Our team’s focus on leading-edge energy efficiency and a healthy indoor environment was key to the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities’ (EOHLC, formerly DHCD) approval of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
A Range of Accessible Options
Thirty residential units range from studios to three bedrooms, with barrier-free apartments in all sizes. We designed all in accordance with the Massachusetts Fair Housing Act, the Department of Mental Health, the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board, the Mayor’s Office of Housing (formerly the Department of Neighborhood Development), and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities standards.
