City to Fund Jackson Square Development

A Jackson Square affordable housing complex will be finished using a portion of $8.4 million in city funds, according to a press release from Mayor Thomas Menino’s office Monday.

The city will build 110 units of low income affordable housing through three developments: Jackson Commons, Roxbury Crossing Senior Housing in Roxbury and Phase One of the redevelopment of St. Kevin’s in Dorchester, according to the press release.

Funding has been provided by the state Department of Neighborhood Development and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Assistance Program in the Office of Housing and Economic Development. About 20 units total will be reserved for very low income families and those transitioning from homelessness.

Jackson Commons, located at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Centre Street, will also include 12,000 square feet of commercial and community space, with 2,000 square feet devoted to ground-floor retail. The space will also include offices and classrooms, the press release says. This space will be called the Neighborhood Learning Center and will include classrooms and offices.

The three developments will create about 284 new construction jobs in Boston.

“It is critical that that we use every resource available to build more rental housing for working families in our city,” Menino said in the press release.  “Creating affordable rental housing not only provides housing for families, but it also aids Boston’s economic recovery.  We are extremely excited to get shovels in the ground and new jobs in the neighborhoods.” 

The developments will be LEED certified and will meet a variety of energy-saving standards.