February 2026 Housing and Real Estate Updates
MACDC Launches Year 2 of Its Acquisition Strategies Initiative:
On February 9th, MACDC convened a joint meeting of its Housing Peer Group and Acquisition Strategies Initiative (ASI) working group. MACDC’s ASI work in 2025 culminated in the publishing of its Report: “Here Today, Here Tomorrow: CDC Acquisition of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing,” as well as in a in a webinar hosted by The Boston Foundation.
In 2026, we will dig deeper into two of the Report’s findings:
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When buildings become subject to acquisition, the presence of organized tenants can serve as a meaningful deterrent to speculative investors.
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CDCs and other mission-driven organizations have greater opportunities for successful acquisition when they learn of the potential for acquisition before the property is broadly marketed.
At our February 9th meeting, we heard from several CDC practitioners about how tenant and community organizing provided the CDCs the opportunity to acquire NOAH properties. They also discussed how the relationships they established in the communities they serve provided awareness of available NOAH properties before they were widely advertised on the market.
MACDC’s ASI work is ongoing. If you have questions about it, review the Report, and reach out to Don Bianchi, MACDC’s Director of Housing, at donb@macdc.org if you have questions about it.
Governor Announces Affordable Housing Awards in Pittsfield
At an event in downtown Pittsfield on February 17th, Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll announced almost $140 million in affordable housing awards, along with $8.4 million from the new Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) to help communities transform empty or rundown commercial buildings into new homes.
MACDC’s Director of Housing, Don Bianchi, attended the event, as did representatives of several MACDC Member organizations which received awards. EOHLC Secretary Augustus highlighted the dozen communities which received awards. Projects sponsored by five MACDC Member organizations received awards:
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Turtle Woods in Beverly, sponsored by Harborlight Homes, is the preservation and rehabilitation of an occupied senior housing development, which will provide 67 affordable homes, with supportive services, for seniors.
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Asian CDC, working with The Community Builders, will newly construct Parcel P-12C, consisting of 111 affordable apartments in a high-rise in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood.
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In Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, Fenway Forward will newly construct 112 Queensberry Street, consisting of 24 affordable homes for families, and will provide resident services and programs.
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Rural Development, Inc. will include adaptive reuse and new construction of 32 affordable homes in Greenfield, for its 176 Main Street project.
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Linden Street Apartments in Pittsfield will include new construction and adaptive reuse into 35 affordable apartments, developed by Hearthway, in partnership with Causeway Development.
In her remarks, Lt. Governor Driscoll talked about the collective efforts to create a culture that is “housing forward.”