CREW Boston’s Programs Committee hosted members for a behind-the-scenes hard hat tour of the Clarendon Hill affordable housing redevelopment in Somerville on May 14, 2025.
This transformative project, led by Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), is redeveloping the outdated Clarendon Hill public housing into a vibrant, mixed-income community with up to 561 new homes, replacing the original 216 units. The plan reconnects the site to the broader Somerville neighborhood through a new street grid, sloped sidewalks to enhance walkability, and the creation of a Central Community Park that will offer recreation, gathering spaces, and community connections.
During the tour, attendees learned about the project’s first-of-its-kind steel high-rise modular system, which incorporates northern European design elements adapted to meet US and Massachusetts building codes. The modules are fabricated locally in Littleton, Massachusetts. The team also highlighted sustainable design features including LEED Platinum certification, solar PV systems, and high-performance building systems, as well as varied materials and active ground floors to promote community engagement.
Special thanks to our tour host ICON Architecture, and project partners including, POAH, LabNine, Dellbrook | JKS, and Copley Wolff Design Group for sharing their insights and giving CREW Boston members a close-up look at this innovative and community-centered development.
