Federal, state and city funding will support accessibility upgrades, energy-efficient systems, flood mitigation and community improvements at Boston’s public housing development.
BOSTON — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Mayor Michelle Wu, state housing officials and local leaders have announced more than $16 million in public funding to modernize Fairmount Apartments, a public housing community in Hyde Park, with planned improvements focused on accessibility, energy efficiency, climate resilience and residents’ quality of life.
The funding will support the initial phase of a broader modernization effort at the development, which was built in 1951 and contains more than 200 units of state public housing. The announcement brings together federal, state and city investments to upgrade existing affordable homes and strengthen infrastructure serving residents.
Pressley joined Wu, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias, state Rep. Rob Consalvo and Boston Housing Authority Administrator Kenzie Bok, along with residents, to announce the investment.
The funding package includes $1 million in Community Project Funding secured by Pressley and U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, a $10 million High Leverage Asset Preservation Program grant from the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and $5 million in City of Boston capital funding for the Fairmount Modernization Project. The Boston Public Health Commission is also providing funding for open-space improvements and community gardens.
“Residents in the Massachusetts 7th not only deserve a safe, stable place to call home, but also one that reflects modern-day needs in accessibility, resiliency, and sustainability,” Pressley said, describing the investment as a result of community input and collaboration among government partners.
Mayor Wu said preserving existing affordable housing is an essential part of Boston’s efforts to ensure residents can continue to live in the city. She noted that Boston has built nearly 16,000 new housing units across its neighborhoods over the past five years, while emphasizing the need to modernize existing homes.
The Boston Housing Authority is beginning a master planning process for Fairmount to develop a broader vision for the community while starting the first phase of physical improvements.
Planned renovations include modernizing apartment interiors, making 5% of apartments fully accessible, electrifying heating and hot-water systems, and adding cooling. Building-envelope improvements and green stormwater infrastructure are also planned to improve energy performance and strengthen the development’s ability to withstand climate-related challenges.
Bok said the investment would help Fairmount remain a welcoming place for families in Hyde Park for decades to come.
The state funding reflects a broader effort to preserve existing public housing alongside the construction of new homes. Matias said the state’s Affordable Homes Act has expanded funding available to improve Massachusetts’ public housing system.
“We’re not just building new housing, but investing in the homes we already have and the people who live in them,” Matias said.
Consalvo, whose district includes the Hyde Park community, welcomed the investment, saying the partnership among federal, state and city officials would help ensure residents have safe, modern and accessible homes for years to come.
Stormwater improvements and green workforce opportunities
In addition to the building renovations, the initiative includes environmental improvements intended to reduce flooding and stormwater pollution. A federal investment secured by the Massachusetts congressional delegation will support flood mitigation at affordable housing developments, including Boston Housing Authority properties.
The city and the housing authority have collaborated on stormwater projects serving Fairmount, Gallivan and Franklin Field. At Fairmount, planned improvements include a community garden and new rain gardens designed to help manage stormwater runoff and reduce the risk of flooding.
The project will also provide workforce development opportunities through Boston’s PowerCorps program. Local residents will receive training in building and maintaining rain gardens while earning credentials for careers in the green economy.
City Councilors Enrique Pepén and Ruthzee Louijeune also welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of investing in safe, accessible and high-quality public housing. Pepén, who chairs the City Council’s Housing Committee and grew up in public housing, said the investment would strengthen the community and improve residents’ quality of life. Louijeune described the funding as an important step toward ensuring families have stable homes and opportunities to thrive.
The Fairmount project represents part of Boston’s broader effort to preserve affordable housing and upgrade aging public housing infrastructure. By combining apartment renovations with accessibility improvements, energy upgrades, stormwater management and workforce training, officials aim to address both the immediate needs of residents and the community’s long-term sustainability.
For Fairmount residents, the planned improvements are intended to make existing homes more accessible, comfortable and resilient while helping preserve the development as an affordable housing resource in Hyde Park for future generations.
