Project at 2 Ford Street and 970 Saratoga Street moves forward to bring new housing to East Boston

From BPDA re: East Boston Development

Live: 41 residential units, seven income-restricted units
Work: Approximately 42 construction jobs, approximately eight permanent jobs, commercial retail space
Connect: Close proximity to public transportation, public realm improvements
Sustain: Mitigation towards heat island effect, climate resiliency measures 

This project in East Boston sits on two separate parcels of land at 2 Ford Street and 970 Saratoga Street and will consist of two separate four-story, mixed-use buildings. The building at 2 Ford Street will contain 27 residential units and retail space, and the building at 970 Saratoga Street will contain 14 residential units and retail space. Seven units will be income-restricted; at least one other will be considered for the City of Boston Voucher Program. The units will be a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units. The retail space is intended to be tenanted by local residents from the East Boston community. This will be a transit-oriented development, as it is in close proximity to the MBTA Blue line, and will have space for bike parking for residents and visitors. This project is located within the boundaries of PLAN: East Boston, the BPDA’s ongoing neighborhood planning initiative. As one part of the planning process so far, BPDA staff delivered draft recommendations for all squares and corridors in May 2021.

These recommendations include active ground floor uses supported by added height and density and transformational public realm improvements, which this project will deliver. During the review of this project, staff focused on ensuring the buildings are sensible to the neighborhood’s character, and securing street and sidewalk improvements that include safer and accessible crosswalks, wider sidewalks, and an expanded public realm to make space for street trees and green infrastructure. A financial contribution of $50,000 will be used toward making these pedestrian improvements, adding an art installation, and upkeeping Noyes Playground or another East Boston public park. A final portion of the contribution will go to the Boston Transportation Department to support the bikeshare program.