Special to Gazette
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Healey-Driscoll Administration last week announced a significant step forward in the preservation and rehabilitation of the Forbes Building, a major 147-unit rental property in Jamaica Plain. Originally built in 1976 with funding from the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency’s 13A mortgage program, the property has been a vital source of affordable housing for nearly 50 years. The announcement underscores the City and State’s commitment to protecting existing affordable housing while making critical investments in sustainable, modernized living spaces for residents.
“For years, the Forbes Building has been an anchor in our community keeping long-time residents rooted in Jamaica Plain as civic leaders, activists, and neighbors,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m delighted and grateful to join Governor Healey and her administration in marking a big step toward the stability that we have been fighting for here. Preserving the affordability of these housing units means not only protecting the stability of these residents, but also the vitality of our larger community.”
“As we work to create more housing across the state and lower costs for Massachusetts residents, we must also work to preserve the affordable housing we already have,” said Governor Healey. “We’re grateful to Mayor Wu and her team for their strong partnership to ensure that the nearly 150 families who call the Forbes building home can continue to afford to live there.”
“From day one, housing has been a top priority for our administration,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “That means not only creating new pathways to affordability but ensuring people continue to have access to affordable housing.”
The Forbes Building is currently at risk of being converted to market-rate housing as the ownership, led by The Jamaica Plain Company, nears the expiration of its general partnership in 2026. The building’s conversion to market-rate housing could have displaced more than 100 low-income residents. Recognizing the urgent need for action, the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), in collaboration with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), have been working with the owner to develop a long-term solution.
The plan for the Forbes Building includes a comprehensive refinancing and rehabilitation strategy aimed at ensuring long-term affordability and enhancing the property’s sustainability and livability for residents. Key elements of the plan include:
• Establishing long-term affordability for current and future residents, with $11 million in soft debt financing and $7 million in LIHTC awarded by EOHLC, along with $10 million in City funding.
• Buying out the limited partnership interests to prevent conversion to market-rate housing.
• A 24-month rehabilitation project will significantly upgrade the building and its units while minimizing disruption to residents. Temporary accommodations within the building will ensure no residents are displaced during construction.
• Achieving passive house sustainability standards through extensive updates, including exterior cladding, new heating and cooling systems, and improved ventilation.
• Adding green space to the property by reducing parking, creating a Zipcar system for residents, along with the development of a food forest to provide fresh food and programming.
• Upgrading all units with energy-efficient appliances, new flooring, and modern fixtures.
• Activating common spaces to foster community engagement.
• 110 Massachusetts rental vouchers are available for residents of the building.
“Together, the City and the State, working closely with nonprofit partners and the residents of the Forbes Building, have come together to preserve this important Boston asset as affordable housing for decades to come,” said Sheila A. Dillon, Chief of Housing and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing. “This partnership preserves the tenancies of many vulnerable residents while also allowing for vital improvements to the property that will enhance the quality of life for current and future residents.”
“The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is proud to partner with the city of Boston in preserving the affordability of these 147 units,” said Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “We are committed to using every tool in our toolbox to ensure that places like the Forbes Apartments remain an affordable place for people to call home.”
The Forbes’ residents have organized and worked closely with the Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants to ensure that the property remained affordable and resident voices were heard throughout the process.
“We are thrilled that the Forbes Building has been approved for 110 low income rent subsidies,” said David Nollman, a leader of the Forbes Building Tenants Association and Board member of the Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants. “This will achieve our long-standing goal to save our homes as mixed income housing affordable to current and future elderly or disabled households. We thank Mayor Wu and Governor Healy for their critical leadership and support.”
“We are delighted that the resources committed by the Commonwealth and the City will preserve long-term affordability of all 147 units at the Forbes building, which has been home to many residents who are elderly or individuals with disabilities. The proposed rehabilitation will also ensure critical climate and sustainability goals are met to Passive House standards. CEDAC has been proud to partner with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the Mayor’s Office of Housing in this collaborative effort and recognizes the hard work of the tenant association, whose consistent advocacy led to this positive preservation outcome,” said Roger Herzog, Executive Director, CEDAC.
Today’s announcement is a major step in making Boston a city for everyone. Mayor Wu has focused on making Boston more affordable for all residents since she assumed office. The Wu administration has created more affordable housing than in a generation, ensured more families become homeowners than ever before, and implemented policies to reduce home energy costs for residents over time. This plan, in partnership with the State, builds on Mayor Wu’s new innovative initiatives to address housing affordability across neighborhoods and keep residents in their communities. Mayor Michelle Wu today introduced an expanded residential tax relief package aimed at providing financial assistance to Boston residents impacted by sharp increases in their Fiscal Year 2025 third-quarter property tax bills that were sent out on January 1st. This refiling expands on Mayor Wu’s relief package that passed the City Council and House of Representatives last year. Last month, Mayor Wu filed an $110 million appropriation with the City Council to create the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund, a new fund aimed at kickstarting production of housing by closing financing gaps for approved projects.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has also made housing a top priority, starting with the creation of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in 2023. Since then, the administration has initiated a comprehensive approach that includes passage of the Affordable Homes Act, implementation of the MBTA Communities Law and sizable increases in housing tax credits and subsidies, making this project possible. The $5.12 billion Affordable Homes Act, in addition to record spending authorizations on housing, created nearly 50 new policy initiatives, including authorizing accessory dwelling units under 900 square feet by right, creating a Seasonal Communities designation and the creation of a commercial property conversion program.