City Council | Affordable Housing | Dear Editor

Affordable Housing Update

Mass Pike Completes Renovations
Tenants and community leaders joined Trinity Financial partners, Mayor Thomas Menino, and other officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of Mass Pike Towers on March 31. The celebration marked the completion of renovations at the development and the one-year anniversary of the historic sale agreements. These agreements included preservation of all 200 affordable housing units, 70 years of affordability restrictions, additional subsidies contributed by the developer, tenant involvement in management, and a plan for future joint ownership by the South Cove Nursing Facilities Foundation and the Mass Pike Towers Tenant Association.

Long-term Contracts at Mason and Stearns
At Mason Place and the Stearns, owned by the same development corporation, tenants began organizing for renewal of their Section 8 affordable housing contracts when they first expired over a year ago. Mason Place won a five-year renewal of their contract last year and the Stearns contract has been under negotiation. Since last year, the Boston Redevelopment Authority became involved in negotiations with the landlord, after tenants discovered that Mason Place and the Stearns must continue to be used as affordable housing under a contract with the City of Boston known as a Chapter 121A agreement. With this additional leverage on the tenants’ side, the owner recently agreed to 20-year contracts at both Mason Place and the Stearns.

Stearns to Change Hands
The impending sale of the Stearns building owned by State Street on 10 Temple Place left many elderly and disabled residents wondering if their affordable housing would continue with the new owner. But Stearns residents were elated to hear that new owner Retirement Housing Fund (RHF) will honor a 20 year contract for Section 8 and also promised to extend affordability another 10 years beyond the contract. There is a Purchase & Sale agreement between current owner State Street and RHF. The final sale is expected to be complete by June 2001. Renovations on the building will begin shortly after the sale. The building is to be managed by Schochet & Associates and current management employees will remain the same.

However, residents voiced concern that there are no translation services or a full-time bilingual staff for many of the Chinese and Russian immigrants living in the building. One elderly Chinese resident testified with tears on her face how she had an emergency but the staff person on the phone couldn’t understand what she was saying. Others said that a full-time bilingual staff at the front desk would be helpful and that management letters that are sent to resident should include translation.
Affordable Housing Trust Cut

As we go to press, the state House of Representatives has proposed to cut the $20 million Affordable Housing Trust from the state budget. At the same time, Boston tenant groups are filing legislation to allow cities and towns to reinstitute some form of rent control and tenant protection by popular referendum. Our community needs to be involved in these broader advocacy efforts. To get involved, please call CPA at (617) 357-4499.