3 minute read
Judging Criteria
from The Gardens
by Leo Coelho
JUDGMENT CRITERIA
PHYSICAL DESIGN A former public housing complex has been reimagined for 2020. Community space with programming for kids and adults, a community garden, and large open space in the center of the complex provides various opportunities for residents to interact and build community. The Gardens opens up to McKinney Park, which is adjacent to the complex, giving kids and teenagers additional space for outdoor activities and sports. Ample bike storage and energy efficient laundry facilities encourage residents to minimize their carbon footprint. Large rooftop terraces with views of Boston gives residents a place to gather, while also accommodating solar panels that reduce the building’s carbon footprint while also reducing energy costs. Murals by local artists as well as outdoor lighting and furniture create a sense of community and encourage residents to feel a sense of belonging.
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PROJECT FINANCING The complex financing structure allows us to build 351 units by phasing our project in three. Each phase will consist of demolishing the necessary existing buildings in order to build two buildings per phase, where each building is financed separately. Every building will be financed with a variety of sources of fundings, including either a 4% LIHTC or a 9% LIHTC. Our unit mix incorporates varying income levels in order to create a mixed-income community. All 254 units from the demolished Faneuil Gardens site will be rebuilt, plus an additional 97 units at market rate or 80% AMI that are designed to close the funding gap.
INNOVATION The Gardens is slated to be a vibrant, multigenerational community that the residents will be proud to call home. There is a community garden, an open green space, and murals throughout the sides of the buildings to create a sense of place.
The Gardens is also a transportation hub that provides residents access to opportunity and upward mobility.
Its close proximity to transit allows residents of the Gardens to easily access downtown Boston and its job market. The Gardens residential complex will partner with community-based organizations who will provide residents with workforce and education training at the Gardens’ on-site community center. The community center will also be used to after school activities and can be rented by residents and the greater Boston community.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY The Gardens is consistent with smart growth principles while also adhering to community needs. The site is denser than the former Faneuil Gardens site to make most out of Boston’s scarce land and also to take advantage of its close proximity to public transportation that connects the site to large employment hubs. Bike storage and an electric carshare program promotes additional transit options that are environmentally responsive. The construction materials are locally sourced and sustainable. Cross-laminated timber construction reduces our project’s overall carbon footprint. We use No VOC paints, coatings, primer, adhesives or sealants. The rooftop solar saves significant amounts of energy which reduces the development’s carbon footprint. All units come equipped with energySTAR appliances and the buildings are LEED Gold Certified, meaning they use 25% less energy.
COMMUNITY RESPONSIVENESS The physical design and programming are the result of research and conversations with residents, community-based organizations, and government officials. Units and common spaces are designed for low-income and workforce families, while also being attractive to market rate tenants, including young professionals. While physical outreach was limited due to Covid-19, we conducted in-depth research on the history of Allston-Brighton and public housing. That research, combined with the interviews we conducted provided a direction for the design and implementation for the Gardens including modernized units, green spaces, and a redesigned multi-purpose community center.
PROJECT FEASIBILITY In order to blend the Gardens into the neighborhood, our design takes the surrounding buildings’ height and design, as well as the public realm, into account. The mix of affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing provides housing for those that are most rent-burdened, while also incorporating higher income households to offset the operating expenses. While this project includes an increase in density and would require a zoning variance, we believe our request is reasonable due to the current housing crisis and the City of Boston’s goals for housing production. Additionally, the Allston Brighton CDC, one of our project sponsors, has close relationships with stakeholders in the AllstonBrighton area and has experience increasing the supply of affordable housing. Their expertise and relationships further strengthens the ability to execute this large project.
