The Planning + Development (P+D) Department secures capital funding from a variety of state, federal, local and private sources for both the revitalization of our housing portfolio (approximately 2,900 hard units in the City of Cambridge) and the development of new affordable housing. Since 2010, CHA has completed or has started construction on $586 million of renovations in its portfolio, a little over halfway through its $1 billion program to reinvest in its properties to protect and preserve their availability as deeply affordable housing for future generations.
The CHA has been working to convert its federally-assisted public housing portfolio to the Section 8 program since HUD’s approval of CHA’s portfolio conversion application under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)
Program in December 2013. In addition to utilizing the RAD, the CHA has also received or is in the process of receiving 1,094 tenant protection vouchers through the Section 18 Disposition process. As of December 31, 2020, CHA will have converted 2,338 units (or 96%) of its 2,427 federally-assisted public housing units.
In 2021, P+D will be responsible for more than $260 million in overall on-going capital improvements, with an emphasis on long-term durability, livability, energy efficiency and high-quality construction. In 2021, P+D will also be continuing CHA’s conversion process for the remainder of its federal public housing properties.
Recent News
- Truman Apartments Presentation for Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing
- Putnam School Apartments PBRA (Project Based Rental Assistance) Application *DRAFT* Added March 19, 2021
Planning & Development Staff
Millie Santana - Executive Secretary
Planning & Development
The Planning & Development Department (P&D) secures capital funding from a variety of different state, federal, local and private sources for both the revitalization of our housing portfolio (approximately 2,900 hard units in the City of Cambridge) as well as for the development of new affordable housing opportunities. In 2020, P+D will be responsible for more than $90 million in overall on-going capital improvements, with an emphasis on long-term durability, livability, energy efficiency and high-quality construction. P&D will also be continuing CHA’s conversion process for the remainder of its federal public housing properties.
There are approximately 20 staff working in CHA’s Planning and Development Department
Completed Construction
- Modernization of St. Paul’s Residence ($5.5M project, completed October 2020)
- Modernization of Garfield Street Apartments ($2.5M project, completed February 2020)
- Modernization of Russell Apartments ($14M project, completed March 2019)
- Revitalization of Manning Apartments ($66M project, completed October 2018)
- Comprehensive Modernization of Putnam Gardens ($25M project, completed)
- Comprehensive Modernization of Newtowne Court ($48M project, completed December 2017)
Construction “In Progress”
- $110M Revitalization of Millers River Apartments (work in progress)
- $68M Burns Apartments Revitalization (work in progress)
- $33M Roosevelt Towers Low Rise Modernization (work in progress)
- $12M Comprehensive Modernization of 78-80 Porter Road (work in progress)
The scope of work of these projects varies but includes interior renovation, building system and envelope upgrades, accessibility and site improvements. All of the projects listed above have required some level of relocation for resident safety and to expedite the completion of the work at each site.
The work highlighted above represents a total of approximately $235 million in improvements.
Resident information and participation is at the forefront of all of the work going on at CHA. If the building where you live is currently or will be under construction soon, Project Managers are always available to answer questions you may have about renovation work going on at your building. P&D staff provide updates on design and construction activities through newsletters and resident meetings. Even during this unprecedented time P&D staff will continue to facilitate resident participation and ensure that is part of design and construction activities at your building.
The following “near term” projects are currently in the Design Phase
- Rehabilitation of Truman Apartments
- Rehabilitation of Putnam School
- Rehabilitation of Special Needs Housing (Chapter 689 Properties)
- Jefferson Park Federal Revitalization
The following “longer term projects” are presently in the planning stages:
- Renovations of 116 Norfolk Street
- 155 Willow Street (New Construction)
- Renovation of the “Mid Rise” building at Roosevelt Towers
- Potential new construction at Millers River
- Revitalization of Corcoran Park
- Modernization of Weaver Apartments
- Modernization of Linnaean Street