BOSTON–A historic church in the heart of Jamaica Plain is getting a powerful new purpose. The once-vacant Blessed Sacrament Church, a century-old architectural and cultural landmark, will soon offer 55 units of affordable housing—thanks to a major redevelopment led by Pennrose, LLC and supported by MassDevelopment, Citizens, and several public agencies.
This week, MassDevelopment announced the issuance of a $37.6 million tax-exempt bond to support the adaptive reuse of the former church, which closed its doors in the early 2000s. The bond, purchased by Citizens, is part of a broader $38 million financing package, with additional support from federal low-income housing tax credits projected to provide $32.8 million in equity.
Once completed in early 2028, the project will offer a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments at deeply affordable rents—with 11 units for households earning 30% of the area median income (AMI) and 6 units reserved for individuals experiencing homelessness.
“The Blessed Sacrament Church has long stood as a pillar of community in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood,” said Eric Paley, Economic Development Secretary and Chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “This bold redevelopment will carry the building’s legacy forward and strengthen our economy by creating new affordable housing opportunities for local families and individuals.”
A Landmark Transformed
Built in the early 20th century, the Blessed Sacrament Church served generations of families in Jamaica Plain before closing its doors more than two decades ago. In 2014, local nonprofit Hyde Square Task Force acquired the property with the goal of preserving its community significance.
Now, in partnership with national developer Pennrose, the church will be restored and reimagined—not as a monument to the past, but as a vital solution to Boston’s housing crisis.
“This redevelopment will restore this church that has been vacant for 20 years into the vibrant community anchor residents and families have known it as across generations,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “It adds critically needed affordable and mixed-income housing to the neighborhood while honoring the church’s historic architecture.”
Project Details
Total Units: 55 affordable apartments
13 two-bedroom
25 one-bedroom
17 studio
Affordability Breakdown:
11 units for households at 30% AMI
7 units at 50% AMI
27 units at 60% AMI
10 units at 80% AMI
Special Allocation: 6 units reserved for individuals experiencing homelessness
In addition to MassDevelopment’s bond issuance and federal tax credits, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) will assume the bond and provide long-term fixed-rate financing once construction is complete.
“This development marks a major step forward in expanding affordable housing opportunities in Hyde Square,” said Clark Ziegler, Executive Director of MHP. “Pennrose is helping bring residents back to a walkable, transit-rich neighborhood that has been under market pressure for years.”
A Vision for Community-Driven Development
For Pennrose, the Blessed Sacrament project is about more than real estate—it’s about creating opportunity and preserving neighborhood identity.
“Located in a transit-oriented, resource-rich neighborhood, the Blessed Sacrament redevelopment will improve access to high-quality housing in one of the country’s most expensive cities,” said Karmen Cheung, Regional Vice President at Pennrose. “Thank you to MassDevelopment and all our financial partners for their invaluable support.”
The project has also earned strong support from the banking sector.
“At Citizens, we believe that investing in affordable housing is investing in the future of our communities,” said Lisa Murray, Massachusetts President at Citizens Bank. “We’re proud to support MassDevelopment in bringing this vision to life.”
Preserving History While Meeting Today’s Needs
The adaptive reuse of Blessed Sacrament is a rare example of how preservation, affordability, and community development can come together in a single project.
“This is a powerful example of how we can honor our history while meeting today’s housing needs,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
As Boston continues to grapple with an escalating housing crisis, the transformation of this long-vacant church into welcoming, affordable homes stands as a model for what’s possible—when public vision, private capital, and community collaboration intersect.
