DVM Housing Partners celebrate progress on BLUME on the Ave.

Boston, MA DVM Housing Partners (DVM) celebrated progress on BLUME on the Ave., a new affordable homeownership community on Blue Hill Ave. in Mattapan. Offering 30 newly constructed studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom condominiums and more than 3,000 s/f of commercial space across three buildings, the project aims to build wealth for first-time homebuyers and cultivate arts, culture, and small business entrepreneurship in one of the city’s most vibrant and historic neighborhoods. 

BLUME on the Ave. is a community-driven, mixed-use development located at 1015-1019, 1039, and 1028-1044 Blue Hill Ave. 

Through a Mayor’s Office of Housing vacant lot disposition in 2022, the project was awarded to DVM Housing Partners, a woman- and minority-owned development firm dedicated to providing equitable access to safe, stable homes for all. Developed in partnership with MassHousing, the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp., and LISC Boston, the project will bring forth the community’s vision for attainable homeownership and introduce new arts and culture amenities to the neighborhood. 

“At DVM Housing Partners, we believe every person deserves a place to call home that reflects their history and their aspirations,” said Dariela Villón-Maga, founder and principal of DVM Housing Partners, who was born and raised in the Grove Hall neighborhood and currently lives in Mattapan. “BLUME on the Ave. was crafted by the people we serve, and leverages affordable homeownership to preserve Mattapan’s culture, prevent displacement, and invest in a future where this community can thrive.” 

“Blue Hill Ave. has long been a center of community life in Boston, and projects like BLUME on the Ave. show what’s possible when we invest in that history,” said chief of housing Sheila Dillon. “By creating new affordable homes and opportunities for local entrepreneurs, we’re not just adding buildings, we’re helping strengthen neighborhoods, supporting residents, and building a city that is home for everyone.” 

“MassHousing is pleased to be part of this transformative effort in Mattapan that turned vacant parcels into 30 brand new homes for first-time buyers who will enjoy all the benefits of homeownership,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. 

BLUME will offer families, first-time buyers, and long-time neighborhood residents high-quality, sustainable and modern living. Designed as an all-electric, energy-efficient building, Blume on the Ave. features individualized heating and cooling systems to promote healthy indoor air quality, wood flooring, open floor plans, and sleek modern kitchens with high-quality appliances. 

In addition, DVM has partnered with three Black-owned, woman-owned small businesses to occupy all three of the project’s commercial spaces and bolster local entrepreneurship in the neighborhood. The businesses include Sadiddy Lifestyle, a beauty studio, and Body, Stone, and Soul + Smart Startup HR, a dual family business that operates as a crystal shop focused on wellness and healing, and as an HR consulting firm supporting small businesses. These businesses were selected through a community-led process involving more than 100 Mattapan residents and a formal RFP process overseen by a Community Advisory Committee. This approach ensures that economic growth directly benefits Mattapan residents while fostering cultural preservation and opportunity. The third commercial space will be occupied by SIDE Presents – a local arts organization crafting unforgettable experiences that empower underrepresented voices through art, storytelling, and community. SIDE Presents is also a 2024 recipient of the City of Boston SPACE Grant program designed to bring people back to commercial districts to revitalize the city’s local economy. BLUME on the Ave marks the first step in a broader vision to revitalize the Lower Blue Hill Avenue corridor from within. By blending affordability, sustainability, and cultural preservation, DVM Housing Partners is reimagining what neighborhood-focused development can look like in Boston. Key project partners include: Oxbow Urban (development consultant), CS2C/NE (ownership project management), Bald Hill Builders (general contractor and construction manager), Studio Luz Architects (architecture). About DVM Housing Partners DVM Housing Partners (DVM) is a Boston-based firm committed to the creation and preservation of income-restricted housing. We achieve this by providing real estate development and affirmative fair housing marketing services to high-impact projects. Our approach is informed by 20+ years of deep industry knowledge and experience, spanning across multi-family real estate development, property management, community engagement, and resident services programming.