The Walnut Street Joint Venture, comprised of Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC), a nonprofit organization that owns and develops affordable rental communities, Peabody Properties, one of the preeminent property management and development companies in the affordable housing industry, and Onyx Group Development, a certified Women & Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) real estate firm with expertise in brokerage and a passion for affordable housing, hosted a June 24th groundbreaking ceremony for Walnut Knoll at 51 Walnut Street in Foxborough.
The 200-unit affordable rental housing development for seniors is situated on a 16-acre parcel at the corner of Walnut Street and Route 140. The phased 40B affordable housing project will encompass 141 rental units in Phase One and an additional 59 rental units in Phase Two. Each phase will provide a broad range of affordability from 30% up to 80% of the Area Median Income.
Michael Mattos, president and executive director of AHSC, thanked and congratulated all entities involved in “making this project happen.”
“Everyone has worked together to make this important endeavor move along as quickly as possible from funding to permitting to construction,” said Mattos, extending special thanks to “area neighbors and abutters.”
Chanda Smart, CEO of Onyx Group Development and Realty, expressed gratitude to the Foxborough community for its support of this much-needed project.
Heather Calcagni, director of revenue management and marketing at Peabody Properties, thanked all involved in the collaborative effort.
“From the very start of the Walnut Knoll project, the synergy between the development team, the town of Foxborough and the community has been remarkable with everyone in agreement about the importance of providing high-quality affordable housing for our senior population,” said Calcagni.
“This project addresses the largest statewide concern – the housing shortage and the importance of affordable housing for our senior citizens,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss.
State Representative Jay Barrows addressed “the collaboration with neighboring towns to enable this project to move forward” while State Senator Paul Feeney noted that the project “will serve as a model for other districts across the state who will use this project as a blueprint for similar projects across the Commonwealth.”
Also speaking were Foxborough Housing Authority Chairman Greg Spier, one of the key contributors and champions of the project, and Foxborough Town Manager Paige Duncan.
