The proposed redevelopment of 27-29 Hancock St has cleared a number of hurdles in recent months. After a strong showing of community support at the March public meeting, the BPDA Board of Directors voted to approve the transfer of 27-29 Hancock St to Fenway CDC at their April 10th meeting.
The title for the properties then passed to Fenway CDC in early July. Per City of Boston process, Fenway CDC's proposed changes (ALT1736043 and ALT1710860) went to Boston Landmarks Commision review and were unanimously approved by the Beacon Hill Architectural Council (BHAC) on August 21. The project then received the unanimous endorsement of the Beacon Hill Civic Association's Zoning and Licensing Committee on September 3rd.
Fenway CDC's proposal will now proceed to Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) for review on October 7th. Given the robust community process, we expect the board's approval, which will clear the path for building permits to be issued and construction to begin later this year or early in 2026.
The BPDA has announced a public meeting where Fenway CDC and JDMD will update the community on their plans for 27-29 Hancock St. We recently mailed a letter to BPDA Director Kairos Shen to express our strong support for the proposed redevelopment.
After many months of hard work, Homes on Hancock is happy to announce a plan to redevelop 27-29 Hancock Street into affordable apartments for new homeowners with support from our city and state representatives and the community!
27-29 Hancock Street has sat vacant for decades and is in need of major renovations. Homes on Hancock was formed in Summer 2024 and, beginning in the Fall of 2024, joined an advisory committee with representatives from the city, state, Beacon Hill Civic Association and ownership of the properties (JDMD) to find an affordable housing solution for 27-29 Hancock Street through a request for proposal process.
The process was a success. We can now announce that JDMD is working to transfer ownership of the properties to the Fenway CDC, a non-profit community organization with extensive experience redeveloping properties into affordable housing. The Fenway CDC's plan is to gut renovate 27-29 Hancock Street into 15-17 affordable studios, one bedroom and two-bedroom apartments at 80-100% area-median-income for new homeowners.
The plan has support from JDMD, the Mayor, the Mayor's Office of Housing, our City Councilor Sharon Durkan, our state Rep. Jay Livingstone, the Beacon Hill Civic Association and Homes on Hancock!
Homes on Hancock would like to thank Jay Livingstone for helping organize and lead the 3-month request for proposal process with JDMD that led to the selection of Fenway CDC to redevelop the properties. Homes on Hancock would also like to thank City Councilor Sharon Durkan for securing American Rescue Plan Act funding to help support the redevelopment of 27-29 Hancock Street. Finally, Homes on Hancock would also like to thank Joshua Leffler and the Beacon Hill Civic Association for their community leadership and support.
The goal is for all of us to work together to complete the public process and begin redevelopment of the properties in 2025! Today, there is just one affordable housing unit for homeownership in Beacon Hill. Soon there will be at least 15 more!