Grand opening of Call Carolina celebrated in Jamaica Plain

Mayor Kim Janey today joined Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) and residents for the grand opening of the Call Carolina homeownership project. The more than $3.8 million transit-oriented homeownership development created eight new mixed-income homes in Jamaica Plain. The development of the new homes is part of the City of Boston’s Neighborhood Housing Initiative.

"Creating affordable homeownership opportunities is vital to fostering generational wealth for our residents. Homeownership also supports residents’ ability to stay in our city” said Mayor Kim Janey. “Thank you to all of our partners who helped create affordable opportunities for Boston residents. I look forward to continuing to create more opportunities for first-time homebuyers in our City.”  

The Neighborhood Homes Initiative (NHI) is a product of Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030, the City of Boston’s comprehensive housing plan. The NHI uses vacant land and City of Boston funding to create affordable and mixed-income homeownership opportunities for homebuyers with a range of incomes. The Call Carolina homes were transformed on a once-vacant MassDOT-owned lot.

“We are thrilled to welcome eight families to our community who would not otherwise be able to put down roots here,” said JPNDC’s Chief Executive Officer Teronda Ellis. “Affordable homeownership allows people to put their former rent money into equity. It helps keep Jamaica Plain a place where all people have the opportunity to prosper.”

“MassHousing was pleased to use CommonWealth Builder funds to help create eight new homes for first-time homebuyers who can now live affordably and prosper economically in Jamaica Plain,” said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. “Taking three vacant lots and putting up new homes will allow these families to own their piece of the American dream and begin building on their investment for their families and future generations. Congratulations to the new homeowners, JPNDC, the City of Boston, and everyone involved in this exciting accomplishment.”  

The homes were sold to first-time buyers in Boston. Of those, six were sold to households making at or below $95,200, or 80 percent of Area Median Income for a family of four, and two were sold to households with an income at or below $119,000 or 100 percent of Area Median Income. 

The Call Carolina Homes have high-efficiency heating systems, as well as Energy Star rated appliances. The new homes employ environmentally-friendly design features throughout that meet the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Homes Silver certifiable standard. The development also meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star standards. 

The development of these new homes has been made possible in part with public funding of $830,000 from the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, $500,000 from the Community Preservation Act funding, and $300,000 from MassHousing.

"We are a couple with two young kids, 2 and 6 years old, and we also live with my mother. We have lived in Jamaica Plain for 20 years. We have seen the neighborhood grow and change in different ways; however, what has always persisted is the sense of community. It is very exciting to remain in the neighborhood as homeowners and from this space contribute to the community we love,” said new homeowners Federico and Agustina. “We want our children to grow up in Jamaica Plain and continue developing in a healthy, welcoming, and friendly environment. We are truly grateful to the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts for making it possible for our family to own our first home. We are also very grateful to all the agencies involved in this process."

The Department of Neighborhood Development is responsible for housing people experiencing homelessness, developing affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can find, maintain, and stay in their homes. As part of the ongoing coronavirus response, the Office of Housing Stability is administering Boston’s Rental Relief Fund, which has given out more than $20 million to more than 4,000 households and is also conducting tenant’s rights workshops to educate residents about the eviction moratorium and their rights. The Boston Home Center continues to provide down payment assistance to first-time home buyers and home repairs for seniors and low-income residents. The Supportive Housing Division works with various partners around the city to rapidly house individuals who are experiencing homelessness. For more information, please visit the DND website.

Founded in 1977, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) pursues the mission of transforming lives and amplifying the voices of Boston residents who have been excluded from prosperity. Its work is credited with developing 1,222 affordable homes, securing more than $15 million in financing for local small businesses, and connecting more than 3,000 residents to jobs, education, and training. For more information about JPNDC please visit www.jpndc.org.