The Magnolia proposal would bring mixed-income rental and ownership housing to the former Poor Clare Monastery site while preserving open space and expanding tree protections
BOSTON — A long-debated housing proposal in Jamaica Plain has taken another step forward as Sixteen Penny Company formally refiled plans with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) for a 158-unit mixed-income residential development known as The Magnolia.
The project, proposed for the former Poor Clare Monastery property at 920 Centre Street, would create 158 new homes, including 79 condominium units and 79 rental apartments. The development also includes 38 affordable rental units, with 36 reserved for households earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income and two units designated for housing voucher holders.
The filing marks the third major redesign and submission of the project over more than three years, reflecting ongoing discussions with neighborhood residents, city planners, environmental advocates, and representatives of the nearby Arnold Arboretum.
The latest proposal calls for a five-story, U-shaped residential building that has been relocated toward the center of the property to increase setbacks and preserve more open space. According to project documents, the redesign includes 50-foot setbacks around the building, expanded landscaping plans, additional tree preservation measures, and legal protections intended to safeguard the site’s environmental features and its proximity to the Arboretum.
The project would replace the existing monastery building and introduce new pedestrian connections, transit-related improvements, and expanded green space throughout the property.
Developers say the revised plan seeks to address Boston’s ongoing housing shortage while balancing environmental concerns and neighborhood character.
“Boston needs more housing, and the time to act is now,” said John Holland, owner of Sixteen Penny Company, and Seamus Holland, the company’s project manager, in a joint statement announcing the filing.
According to the developer, the most recent redesign required substantial changes, including relocating the building footprint, preserving additional trees, creating larger setbacks, and implementing new landscape and environmental protections. Company officials said the revisions added millions of dollars in project costs and extended the development timeline by several years.
The proposal includes plans to preserve 27 existing trees on the site and plant approximately 50 new trees. Developers also say the project would reduce impervious surfaces, increase green space, and establish long-term tree protection measures through a dedicated easement.
Housing advocates have increasingly pointed to projects such as The Magnolia as important additions to Boston’s constrained housing supply, particularly as large-scale residential construction has slowed in recent years due to rising costs, financing challenges, and regulatory hurdles.
In addition to creating new housing opportunities, developers estimate the project would generate construction jobs, support local economic activity, and contribute additional property tax revenue to the city.
The project team includes architecture firm Hacin and landscape architect Mikyoung Kim, both of which have worked on a number of high-profile residential and civic projects across Greater Boston.
The Magnolia will now continue through the BPDA’s public review process, which will include additional opportunities for public comment and community engagement before city officials make decisions regarding approvals and next steps.
The proposal remains one of the more closely watched housing projects in Jamaica Plain, where debates over housing production, environmental preservation, and neighborhood growth continue to shape development discussions across the community.
