City of Somerville joins development partners for groundbreaking at 299 Broadway

Somerville, MA Leaders from the city joined Mark Development, Beacon Communities, Rise Together, and Samuels & Associates to celebrate the official groundbreaking of 299 Bdwy. and 15 Temple St., a mixed-income housing community that will bring hundreds of new homes, neighborhood-serving retail, and new public spaces to the historic Winter Hill neighborhood.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together mayor Jake Wilson, state and local elected officials, financing partners, and community members to mark the culmination of years of collaboration to advance one of the city’s most significant housing and neighborhood revitalization projects.

The redevelopment will transform a long-vacant site into 319 new rental homes, including 136 affordable apartments, along with neighborhood-serving retail, a new public plaza, playground, enhanced pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and sustainable design features consistent with the Winter Hill Neighborhood Plan. Together, the project reflects Somerville’s ongoing commitment to expanding housing opportunities while investing in vibrant, walkable neighborhoods that strengthen the community for generations to come.

Developed through a unique partnership among Mark Development, Beacon Communities, Rise Together, and Samuels & Associates, the project reflects years of collaboration with public agencies and community members to create a development that advances shared priorities around housing affordability, sustainability, economic opportunity, accessibility, and high-quality public spaces.

“This project is a powerful example of what can be accomplished when a city, residents, developers, and public partners stay committed to a shared vision,” said mayor Wilson. “299 Bdwy. and 15 Temple reflect Somerville’s commitment to thoughtful growth, meaningful community engagement, and strong public-private partnership. I want to thank the entire development team, city staff, state partners,  neighborhood residents, and former mayor Ballantyne and her administration whose collaboration and persistence have made this groundbreaking possible.”

15 Temple, developed by Beacon Communities and Rise Together, will create 115 deeply affordable apartments in a six-story building totaling 152,696 s/f. Managed by Beacon Residential Management, the building will feature a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with 99 units affordable to households earning at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 16 units affordable to households at or below 30% AMI, supported through the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and project-based vouchers.

“As we celebrate the start of vertical construction, it’s rewarding to see the City of Somerville’s long-planned vision for this site take shape above ground,” said Dara Kovel, CEO, Beacon Communities. “We’re deeply appreciative of the creativity, collaboration, and investment from our development partners at Mark Development and Samuels and for the leadership from city officials and staff that have helped move this complex and transformative project forward. Together, we are revitalizing a long-vacant property, strengthening the Winter Hill neighborhood, and advancing a model for expanding much-needed mixed income housing in communities throughout the Commonwealth.”

299 Broadway, developed by Samuels & Associates and Mark Development, will create 204 apartments in a six-story building totaling approximately 193,000 s/f. The building will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, including 21 affordable units for households earning up to 80% of AMI, along with neighborhood-serving retail, resident amenities, a fitness center, and ample bicycle parking.

“This project is the result of sustained collaboration with the City of Somerville on how to best revitalize a long dormant site and a shared commitment to listening to the community as the project evolved,” said Robert Korff, chief executive officer of Mark Development. “Together with our partners, we’ve created a development that expands housing opportunities while delivering the public spaces, sustainability, and neighborhood investments residents told us they wanted.”

“This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter for Winter Hill that will create homes, welcome new businesses, and invest in a neighborhood in ways that will benefit Somerville residents for generations,” said Damien Chaviano, co-president and principal at Samuels & Associates. “

The design of both buildings prioritizes sustainability and accessibility through a fully electric residential program, Passive House and LEED Gold design standards, and a car-light approach supported by the nearby Gilman Square Green Line station and one bicycle parking space for every residential unit.

The redevelopment is supported through an extensive public-private financing partnership involving federal, state, municipal, and private investment. For 15 Temple, Hudson Housing Capital serves as syndicator, with construction financing and equity provided by Capital One. Additional financing includes federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, MassHousing first mortgage financing, Massachusetts housing resources, the City of Somerville Affordable Housing Trust, project-based rental assistance, and city-approved Tax Increment Financing.

For the 299 Broadway portion of the development, Safehold Inc. provided both the ground lease and construction financing, supporting a capital structure that enables the delivery of mixed-income housing, neighborhood-serving retail, and public amenities while advancing the city’s long-term vision for Winter Hill.

Construction is underway, with 15 Temple expected to welcome residents in late 2027 and 299 Broadway anticipated to be completed in early 2028.