September 2022 — The Bartlett Station Project, a Roxbury neighborhood development by Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation (NCDC) and Windale Developers, has won the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) “2022 Project of the Year” Award for the successful and impactful remediation and transformation of this important Boston site.
The award was announced on September 13th at BCONE’s Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop in Stamford, Connecticut. Nominated by environmental consultants Weston & Sampson of Reading, MA, the Bartlett Station Project was one of many outstanding nominees.
“The Bartlett Station project cleanup and redevelopment represents decades of effort, commitment and a steadfast vision of the community,” said NCDC Director of Real Estate Development Diane Clark. “I’m proud of the Roxbury community for taking what started as a health concern and creating a healthy neighborhood!”
The Bartlett Station Project is an exciting and long overdue development plan that started with the community’s vision for the former MBTA’s Bartlett Yard on Washington Street in Roxbury. The Roxbury community viewed the 8.5-acre site as an opportunity to revitalize the neighborhood by bringing not only housing to the site, but also quality goods, services and economic opportunities. Last month, the project won the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Phoenix Award at the ICMA (International City/County Management Association) Brownfields 2022 Conference in Oklahoma City.
Led by NCDC and partners Arnold Johnson and George Chin of Windale Developers, the Bartlett Station Project, slated for completion in 2025, will provide 380 new affordable, moderate and market-rate rental and homeownership opportunities, as well as 26,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, offering goods and services to the Roxbury community that residents would formerly need to travel to find. “Bartlett Station is an example of how intentional and strategic partnerships can transform the quality of life of an underserved community,” Windale Owner and President Arnold Johnson said. “It is a privilege to serve together for sustainable inclusion.”
The team’s strong partnerships with public and private funders, including the EPA, Mass Development and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), made it possible to transform this 8.5-acre brownfield into a sustainable community offering homes, retail, jobs, development opportunities for local minority businesses, generational wealth-building opportunities, art, open space (at the 15,000-square-foot Oasis Park) and more to the Roxbury community.
Roxbury resident and Project Review Committee member Michael Miles said, “The Bartlett Place Project will transform a very large parcel of land blighted and contaminated by its former existence as a public transportation facility into a healthy, clean and vibrant development of mixed-income housing, commercial, retail and beautiful open space. This successful outcome was accomplished through a dedicated partnership with local residents and stakeholders to achieve the community vision. We are very proud of Bartlett Place!”
The Bartlett Team (NCDC and Windale Developers) thanks the Roxbury community for its vision and the Bartlett Project Review Committee for its input and commitment, and wishes to recognize its Board of Directors and Real Estate Development Committee, its consultants Kim Vermeer of Urban Neighborhood Initiatives; Henry Joseph and Associates; Davis Square Architects; the MBTA; Michael Washington Associates; Goulston & Storrs Law Firm; DeVellis Zrein Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture; Lahlaf Geotechnical Consulting and the highly skilled and professional team at Weston & Sampson. Special recognition goes to the former NCDC staff who initiated this project: Evelyn Friedman, Marcia Thornhill, David Price and Mark Matel.
Matel, the former Bartlett Station Project Manager, said, “It's been a privilege to work with the community of Roxbury and the entire Bartlett team to help develop a site that was once a health and environmental hazard into a cultural and community asset. Thank you to Windale, NCDC, Weston & Sampson and the EPA for creating a safe environment and place for many to call Bartlett Station home.”
Also crucial to Bartlett Station’s success is the support and patience of its public and private funders, the City of Boston–Mayor’s Office of Housing; Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Housing and Community Development; Frank Gardner and the EPA; DEP; Mass Development; Enterprise Community Partners; Neighborworks; LISC; Blue Hub Capital; CEDAC; MHIC; Eastern Bank; Bank of America and Federal Home Loan Bank, among the many others who make important projects like Bartlett Station possible for people and communities who have worked hard to make their collective vision a reality.
Above photo:
Diane Clark and Raja’ee Uqdah-Jennings accepted the Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) “2022 Project of the Year” Award for Roxbury’s Bartlett Station Project on behalf of Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation and Windale Developers.
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