Nonprofit Developer Buys Mattapan Site For Affordable Housing: The Boston Deal Sheet
A nonprofit housing developer affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston has acquired a development site in Mattapan where it plans to build more than 100 units of affordable housing.
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The Planning Office for Urban Affairs and JGE Development acquired 1590 Blue Hill Ave. in Mattapan.
The Planning Office for Urban Affairs and its partner, JGE Development, acquired a 1.63-acre site at 1590 Blue Hill Ave. in the Mattapan Square business district for $8.7M, according to Colliers. The property was previously owned by the McKeen family, which operated an auto repair business there starting in 1976.
POUA has secured city approvals for the development of a six-story, 105-unit affordable housing development on the site. The project falls under Boston’s Squares + Streets zoning district, which encourages multifamily housing development, density and mixed neighborhood uses.
Colliers’ Jeanne Pinado served as an adviser to the McKeen family over the last two years as the property was marketed for sale.
“I am proud of my role in the eventual development of 105 affordable homes for Boston families by the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, which is serving as a catalyst for social justice through its work in housing development and neighborhood revitalization,” Pinado said in a statement.
SALES
New Lease Office Properties sold a 132K SF office building at 1100 Crown Colony Drive in Quincy to FoxRock Properties for $5.5M. In 2013, REIT W.P. Carey acquired the office property for $25.5M. A decade later, W.P. Carey completed a spinoff of several office properties into NLOP. FoxRock owns an adjacent office building at 1200 Crown Colony Drive, which it acquired in 2024 for $6M.
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Miami-based Volta Global acquired a 500-unit self-storage facility in Fall River for $7M, according to an Oct. 15 deed. The property was previously operated as Tower Mill Self Storage. The self-storage site offers potential expansion opportunities over the next two to three years. Extra Space Storage will manage the facility.
LEASES
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Startup accelerator Mass Challenge signed a lease at Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ Landmark Center in the Fenway.
Startup accelerator MassChallenge announced plans to relocate its global headquarters to the Fenway neighborhood from the Seaport District. The nonprofit signed a 22K SF lease at Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ Landmark Center at 401 Park Drive. MassChallenge will relocate from 10 Fan Pier Blvd., which it has leased since 2019. Cushman & Wakefield’s Ryan Hurd represented MassChallenge in the deal.
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Nonprofit Year Up United signed a 34K SF lease at Synergy’s 2 Center Plaza, the Boston Business Journal reported. The new office includes five classrooms and has an open layout. The space was last occupied by social media company Twitter, now known as X. The nonprofit has cut its space nearly in half from its 62K SF office at 45 Milk St. Savills represented Year Up United on the lease.
PERSONNEL
Intercontinental Real Estate Corp. appointed Greg Balewicz as head of institutional services. In the new role, Balewicz will partner with Intercontinental’s senior leadership to strengthen institutional distribution and client service strategy. Prior to this role, Balewicz led PPM America’s institutional business development efforts. He’s held other roles at Lord, Abbett & Co. and State Street Investment Management.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
WinnCos. completed a $51M rehabilitation and redevelopment project of a historic Worcester Boys Club building into 16 apartments and community space, and it constructed a five-story apartment building consisting of 64 units. The project, known as the Residence on Lincoln Square, was completed as part of a larger 164-unit housing community.
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Emmanuel College officials submitted plans to develop a 10-story lab building in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, Banker & Tradesman reported. The 306K SF project would replace a parking lot on Avenue Louis Pasteur. The lab building would include a 329-space underground garage. Emmanuel College plans to bring on an outside partner.
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The state’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance is offering up three properties for disposition in Billerica, Milford and Rowley, B&T reported. The three properties will be offered for sale at a Dec. 2 auction. The properties are located at 0 River St. Extension in Billerica, 161 West St. in Milford and 482-542 Haverhill St. in Rowley. JJ Manning Auctioneers will conduct the three auctions.
