Braintree Eastwalk Project To Create Riverwalk, 56 New Apartments

BRAINTREE, MA — Construction is underway on The Eastwalk, a new, $47 million mixed-income apartment community in Braintree.

The five-story apartment community will be built on the former location of the Braintree Electric Light Department (BELD) and will create a pedestrian riverwalk along the Monatiquot River, with gathering areas allowing greater public access and improvements to the existing riverfront seawall.

The project comes from WinnDevelopment and Arch Communities, who said the "transit-oriented" complex will have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including 30 units available to households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), 16 of which are eligible for low-income project-based assistance.

Twenty middle income/workforce units will be available for those earning up to 120 percent of AMI and six units will be available for rent at market rates. In total, the project will create 56 new units.

The project has garnered support from Braintree officials, Winn executives said.

“Braintree town officials and planners have been unwavering in their pursuit of a development that would not only provide quality apartment homes for a range of households but also create a community asset for the neighborhood,” said WinnDevelopment Executive Vice President Adam Stein.

Rich Relich, owner of Arch Communities, said the project will bring life to the once active property.

“The redevelopment of this long-vacant parcel will further the economic growth of the Weymouth Landing district and will provide future residents with easy access to the district’s amenities, including mass transit. Without the strong support from our partners, the development of mixed-income properties like this wouldn’t be possible.”

Rep. Stephen Lynch said nearly $4.8 million in federal funding will go toward the project.

“I am happy to see that the federal contribution of nearly $4.8 million dollars in ARPA funding is being used to improve a neglected area along the Monatiquot River, which is being developed in coordination with the Commonwealth’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” said Lynch.

"This funding follows the $3.15 million in federal Community Project Funding that we provided for the reconstruction of Allen Street, which paved the way for the Eastwalk development to move forward," he added. "Our partnership with Mayor Joyce, State Senator Keenan, Rep. Cusack, WinnDevelopment, and Arch Communities on the Eastwalk apartment complex will create an important opportunity for families in Braintree to have access to affordable housing in a safe and beautiful neighborhood."

In addition to expanding rental housing opportunities in Braintree, the project will also play a key role in capitalizing on the town’s significant infrastructure investment in the area, including a completely rebuilt streetscape, new accessible sidewalks, upgraded utilities, street parking and pedestrian-friendly enhancements, officials said.

"The Eastwalk Development will not only enhance our local housing options, but also create a vibrant, sustainable community that will thrive in Braintree,” said Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce.

She continued:

“This project represents a critical step forward in meeting the diverse needs of our residents, with a mix of affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing. The public riverwalk will significantly enrich our town's connection to the Monatiquot River alongside other ongoing river restoration projects like the Armstrong dam removal, Riverwalk and fish ladder installation projects. I'm looking forward to our continued partnership with Eastwalk developers and to meeting their future residents."