Foxborough, MA 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 24^th groundbreaking ceremony for Walnut Knoll at 51 Walnut St.

The 200-unit affordable rental housing development for seniors is situated on 16-acreS at the corner of Walnut St. and Rte. 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.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local and state officials and members of the community, including U.S. congressman Jake Auchincloss, state senator Paul Feeney, state senator Liz Miranda, state representative Jay Barrows, Foxborough town manager Paige Duncan, Foxborough Housing authority chairman Greg Spier, and representatives of the AHSC, Peabody Properties, and Onyx Group Development and Realty project development team.

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.

“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 Heather Calcagni, director of revenue management and marketing at Peabody Properties.

“This project addresses the largest statewide concern – the housing shortage and the importance of affordable housing for our senior citizens,” said Auchincloss.

Barrows said “the collaboration with neighboring towns to enable this project to move forward.” Feeney said, “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.”

Calcagni thanked all involved in the collaborative effort.

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.