Planning & Development
RTH has a strong track record of developing and maintaining safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in a community rich with opportunity. We focus on providing sustainable units that meet the lifestyles of both current and future residents.
Our development team secures capital funding from various federal, state, and local sources for both the revitalization of our housing portfolio (1114 units and 3 commercial properties) and for the development of new affordable opportunities. We believe resident feedback and participation are key and are at the forefront of the rehab and new construction at RTH. We work closely with residents, the project team, and outside contractors to ensure that schedules and budgets are met and that these significant investments support RTH’s overall mission.
Trio Renovation
Estimated Life Safety/Maintenance: $55 Million
Supporting Documents
Roxbury Tenants of Harvard (RTH) is embarking on the Trio Renovation Project, to revitalize the properties along Francis Street, Fenwood Road, St. Albans, and Huntington Ave, with the goal of improving quality of life and enhanced safety for its residents.
The project incorporates significant safety advancements, including the installation of fire sprinklers and fire alarms. Beyond these critical safety enhancements, residents will receive upgrades designed for both comfort and efficiency. Enhanced handicap accessibility, upgraded electrical systems, and improved plumbing form the core of the renovations.
The refurbished interiors will offer a warm and pleasant living space, including improvements such as refinished flooring and updated kitchens and bathrooms.
We will also restore the exteriors of the buildings, with roof repairs, new wood shingle siding, replaced deck joists, and more. We will upgrade insulation and heating to more efficient systems.
This RTH project aims to foster inclusivity and accessibility, while renewing our commitment to care and maintenance of the properties we manage. Despite all the modern improvements, the project will focus on preserving the building’s historic essence.
Trio Renovation FAQs
Q. Why do this project, and why now?
The project is for the residents, and the primary reason is to address safety issues (sprinklers, fire alarms) and deferred maintenance. The intention is to make everyone’s homes safer, to improve resident quality of life and to extend the useful life of the property.
Q. When is the project scheduled to begin and how long will it take?
Design and permitting work is ongoing. A pilot phase will be completed in April 2024 with the first phase beginning upon securing the remainder of the funding. Each building has a different set of challenges and the timing will also be impacted by the permitting process and level of renovation required.
Q. How are residents notified of the planned changes?
All affected units have received mailings / notifications relating to this project. Those include notifications for community meetings, surveys, and resident rights under the Uniform Relocation Act.
Q. What is “right-sizing” and will it impact my household?
Right-sizing ensures that all RTH households are in the right size unit to meet their needs. This will sometimes require residents to move. To the degree possible, we are trying to incorporate the right-sizing obligation into the renovation work to minimize the number of moves/disruptions.
Q. If you are downsized to a smaller unit will you pay the rent appropriate to the smaller unit or your original rent of the larger unit?
You will pay the rent for that smaller unit.
Q. Are you planning on dividing up units to make them smaller?
We are actively working to provide suitably sized units for our current and expected future resident needs. In some cases, units may be divided.
Q. What will the relocation cost me?
Relocation will cause you inconvenience, but RTH will be responsible for all financial costs related to your relocation.
Q. What will happen to the tenants of 777-779 Huntington?
Residents of 777-779 Huntington, who had leases there at the time of the general information notice, have the same rights as everyone else. They will be temporarily relocated during the project and provided permanent housing at the completion of the project.
775 Huntington Avenue
Estimated Construction/Revitalization: $94 Million
RTH proudly presents a mixed-use, mixed-income development in the heart of Mission Hill. This thirteen-story edifice will feature over a hundred residential spaces, continuing to push forward our commitment to affordability and inclusivity.
Set against the backdrop of the vibrant Mission Hill, the groundbreaking development at 775 Huntington Ave emerges as a beacon of progress and inclusivity. The project will introduce 112 multifamily housing units to the neighborhood, with 75% deed-restricted as part of maintaining a mixed-income community. It will include 56 rental apartments restricted to income-eligible residents and 55 for-sale condominiums, 27 of which will be restricted to income-eligible buyers.
This development isn’t just about housing. It’s an effort to craft an example of a new, sustainable urban lifestyle. Nestled just a stone’s throw from the MBTA Fenwood Road Green Line stop, the property will encourage alternative modes of transportation for our residents, including mass transit, ridesharing, and biking. The 2,900 gross square feet of street-level retail space will invite commerce, while enhanced landscaping, new street trees, widened sidewalks, and strategic lighting will create a welcoming walking environment for pedestrians.
But it doesn’t end with just the tangible. This development will promote the ethos of “development without displacement” by strategically building over an existing parking lot, ensuring continuity for the present community while paving the way for new residents. At its core, this development stands as a testament to sustainable construction and development. Every brick laid, every tree planted, and every amenity added isn’t just for the present—it’s a commitment to a greener, more inclusive tomorrow.