St. Kevin’s Parish in Upham’s Corner, Dorchester was a treasured part of the fabric of the community until it closed in 2008. The community celebrated its reincarnation last Thursday as a new facility that will house 80 families.
“Today we stand on sacred ground that again is being used for sacred purpose,” said Right Reverend John J. Ahern, pastor of Holy Family Parish at the ceremony.
New buildings were constructed at 530 Columbia Road and 35 Bird Street. The building at 516 Columbia Road was adapted for residential use as well. Together, they provide 80 units of housing. Twenty units will be kept permanently affordable for families that were formerly homeless. The other 60 are designated for families making up to $65,000 according to the Archdiocese Office of Risk Management’s website.
The development also will include a community center with computers, a fitness center and support services provided by St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children.
The site, known as Upham’s Crossing, is across the street from the Strand Theater and located near UMass Boston, public transit and the Main Streets district.
“To me, [Upham’s Crossing] is wonderful because it preserves the spirit of St. Kevin’s and helps build community by giving people space to raise their families and stay in Dorchester,” said Susan Terrey assistant undersecretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development, who grew up in the neighborhood.
The Planning Office of Urban Affairs developed the property and owns and operates it. Funding came from a combination of source: approximately $6.7 million from the state, $4.7 million from the city, $19 million from Bank of America, and $2.2 million from Massachusetts Housing Partnership. In addition, federal and state tax credits were provided and sold to Bank of America for over $22 million in equity, according to David Aiken, project manager for POUA.
Homeless services
A full-time staff member from St. Mary’s will be located there to work with each of the 20 families transitioning from homelessness, connecting them with services ranging from day care to nutritional advice, said Lisa Alberghini, president of POUA. St. Mary’s also will provide on-site programs; ideas for these range from homework help to parenting aid sessions.
Harry Smith of Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative said such services are critical to ensure families moving in are able to remain stable and retain their housing. DSNI, along with other neighborhood associations, participated in the planning process, which also included discussions with abutters.
“For formerly homeless families it’s key to not just leave them in their apartments, but also offer them the kinds of supports that would help them be successful,” he said. “We don’t want to have situation here lots of families move in and then move out after a year.”
New beginning
The children’s choir from Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy and the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Youth Parish Choir sang before the ceremony.
Christine Wright moved into the housing with her eight-year-old daughter after staying at Casa Nueva Vida homeless shelter. At the ribbon cutting, she spoke tearfully of the trials that brought her here.
“We bounced around from house to house and couch to couch,” Wright said. “I saw the ill effects on my daughter. I heard too many times her wish for her own bed, her own home.”
Now Upham’s Crossing gives her a chance for a new start in life, Wright said.
“I thank you, Upham’s Crossing, from the bottom of my heart for the foundation to build a more stable life together, to learn and grew together and start a new chapter in our journey,” she said.
She plans to attend St. Mary’s Women @ Work service, a 22-week long job-readiness training program.
Housing demand
Wright recalled her joy at discovering she had won a slot through the site’s housing lottery. Demand for the new units was high.
“We received over 3,500 applications for 80 units before we had to stop accepting them,” said Alberghini.
More than 70 percent of the applications were for units designated as for homeless or low-income, she said.
Residents began moving in October, said Aiken, and 45 units are currently occupied. Assignment is underway for the rest and the lottery and waitlist for these is closed.
Vivian Cheng, rental manager for Corcoran Management, said they hope to fully fill Upham’s Crossing by the end of the year.
Of the neighborhood
The lotteries drew people from all over the Boston area, including as far as North Shore and Worcester, Cheng said, though in many cases residents have been a part of the community.
“Many people [in the lottery] grew up in the neighborhood, maybe grew up and moved away, but were looking to come back and saw this opportunity,” Cheng said.
Smith said that the jobs of those moving in reflected the typical jobs of people in the neighborhood, including employment at hospitals, supermarkets, hotels and schools.
“It showed this was housing intended to benefit residents of the neighborhood,” he said.
The building’s construction also drew many workers from the local area, with particular attention to hiring women and people of color, said Smith.
“Last report we had, they [the developers’ diversity hiring numbers] were significantly higher than city averages, especially for local people of color hired for the jobs,” he said.
Helen Gray taught third grade at St. Kevin’s Parish for 35 years. She said that if the school had to close, this housing would be longtime pastor Father Joseph Kierce’s ideal reuse for the site.
“We were heartbroken when they closed it,” she said. “We’re delighted now they’ve opened it.”
