MassHousing Provides $25M For Improvements To Morse Apartments​

BROOKLINE, MA — Improvements are coming to Brookline Housing Authority's Morse Apartments thanks to a $25 million deal through MassHousing.

In a news release, MassHousing said the project aims to make significant improvements to the 99-unit housing tower and make apartments available to lower-income senior citizens for the foreseeable future.

MassHousing, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, said rehabilitation of the apartments will be completed through short and longer-term financing totaling $25 million.

Funding was achieved through a combination of tax-exempt housing revenue bonds, federal low-income housing tax credits and a $14.1 million seller loan and $8 million sponsor loan. Tax credit investors are Boston Financial Investment Management and Santander Bank.

The Town of Brookline also provided $1.35 million in financing support.

"This transaction means that the lower-income seniors who live at Morse Apartments will not only have their affordability extended but will also see extensive improvements to the property and their homes," said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. "We were pleased to partner with the BHA and Boston Private Bank to preserve these affordable homes so that these elderly residents can continue to live and thrive in a community like Brookline that has very high housing costs."

According to the release, Morse Apartments were built in 1973 as federal public housing. The Brookline Housing Authority is now converting the property to federal Project Based Section 8 subsidized housing and will limit residency to households that earn at or below 60 percent of the area's median income, $102,400 for a two-person household.

Improvements are planned to include new kitchens and bathrooms, roll-in showers, new windows and improvements to common areas, plumbing, fire protection outfits and HVAC. Repairs will also be made to the building's exterior.

The project is handled by general contractor Colantonio Inc. and architect BWA Architects. Nolan Sheehan Patten LLC is the counsel to the Brookline Housing Authority.