BOSTON— A significant transformation initiative for the Eva White Apartments, an affordable housing community dedicated to seniors and people with disabilities in Boston’s South End, has officially commenced with a $40.1 million investment.
Led by the Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO) in collaboration with WinnDevelopment, the project is set to modernize the property’s two seven-story towers, initiating a comprehensive renovation aimed at enhancing residents’ living conditions.
Constructed nearly 60 years ago, the Eva White Apartments are due for their first extensive update.
The renovation will introduce new amenity spaces, upgrade apartment interiors, and provide essential on-site health services to assist residents in aging in place.
Deborah Backus, Executive Director of CSTO, expressed the impact of this modernization project, stating, “This modernization project demonstrates how CSTO has shattered stereotypes and expectations for more than 30 years now, continuously strengthening community engagement among residents by listening and effectively responding to their needs.”
A focal point of the project will be the retrofit of the building’s exterior.
The towers will be fitted with super-insulated prefabricated metal panel cladding and triple-glazed windows, significant enhancements projected to curtail annual energy consumption by 49 to 67 percent.
Christina McPike, Vice President of Energy & Sustainability at WinnCompanies, emphasized the retrofit’s importance, calling it “an important demonstration of what is possible for existing buildings in the Commonwealth’s path to net zero emissions.”
The scale and ambition of this project align closely with the successful 2012 Deep Energy Retrofit completed at the nearby Castle Square Apartments, another CSTO and WinnDevelopment collaboration that garnered national recognition.
CSTO became 99 percent owner of the Eva White Apartments in late 2024, overcoming pandemic-related delays.
Meanwhile, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) maintains a 99-year ground lease on the property, ensuring its long-term affordability.
Kenzie Bok, BHA Administrator, noted the importance of communities like Eva White, stating, “Now more than ever, Boston needs communities like Eva White where seniors and adults with disabilities can thrive, access services, stay connected, and age in place with dignity.
This transformation is about more than modernization—it’s about honoring the lives of long-time residents by investing in their health, stability and future.”
The renovation will modernize all 102 units, comprising 34 studios, 57 one-bedroom, and 11 two-bedroom apartments, with six units being made ADA-compliant.
Plans also include new wellness areas, a fitness room, and updated common spaces.
The mechanical systems of the buildings will be upgraded to energy-efficient heat pump technology, signifying a leap towards sustainability.
Health services will be provided on-site by Boston Senior Home Care, with coordination from Connected Communities, a nonprofit associated with WinnCompanies.
The health service team is set to include a registered nurse, community health worker, and tenant resource counselor to ensure residents get specialized care.
To finance the extensive renovation, the project utilized federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, alongside funding from MassHousing and contributions from various public and private entities such as the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Bank of America, Citizens Bank, and the Federal Home Loan Bank.
Massachusetts Housing Secretary Ed Augustus stated, “The renovations at Eva White Apartments will transform the complex into a modern, energy-efficient facility that residents can take pride in.”
Keith Construction is spearheading the construction efforts, supported by architectural and engineering teams from Reisen Design Associates, Petersen Engineering, and WSP Building Structures.
The building envelope installation will be conducted by Sunrise Erectors, with Building Enclosure Associates providing consulting services for the retrofit process.
This ambitious project is slated for completion by April 2026.
MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay highlighted the collaborative effort involved in the transformation, indicating that it will not only establish new on-site health services for residents but also ensure significant annual energy savings through the renovation.
CSTO, established in 1987 in response to the threatened sale of Castle Square Apartments, continues to lead in resident-driven community development.
The modernization of Eva White Apartments adds another important chapter to its legacy of transforming affordable housing in Boston.
image source from：bostonrealestatetimes
