12 Studio Luz Housing Projects Advancing Affordable Housing Across Greater Boston
By funkhaus
The recent grand opening of 75 Dudley Street marked an important milestone for Studio Luz, and for the continued investment in affordable homeownership in Roxbury. Developed by Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) in partnership with the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing, the 15-unit mixed-income development transforms a previously vacant parcel in Nubian Square into permanently affordable homes and community space. 75 Dudley is designed as a transit-oriented development with ground-floor community amenity space, and is also a Passive House-certifiable building, designed with energy efficiency, long-term resilience, and resident well-being in mind. The project demonstrates how affordable homeownership can be part of a larger strategy for community stability and wealth creation.
75 Dudley is one of 12 housing projects Studio Luz has under construction or completed this year across Greater Boston. Together, these projects reflect our belief that affordable housing should be sustainable, thoughtfully designed, and rooted in the communities it serves. They also represent the value of working with partners who see housing as more than the creation of individual units—whether through affordable homeownership, affordable rental housing, neighborhood-serving commercial space, or development led by community-based and mission-driven organizations.
Groundbreaking at 75 Dudley.
Several of Studio Luz’s current housing projects are part of the City of Boston’s Welcome Home, Boston initiative, which expands affordable homeownership opportunities across the city. The first is 23 Nottingham Street, a former church property being transformed into a 12-unit mixed-income housing development. Designed to meet the Specialized Stretch Energy Code, ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction, and LEED Silver certification or higher, the project demonstrates how thoughtful infill design and sustainable building practices can work together to create new housing while making use of existing sites.
Just a few blocks away, three projects along Harvard Street contribute to a growing network of affordable homeownership opportunities. 77 Harvard Street will provide 13 condominium homes in a Passive House-certifiable building designed for high energy performance. 84 Harvard Street adds eight affordable condominium homes through a LEED Silver-certifiable development focused on long-term sustainability and energy efficiency. Completing the trio, 94 Harvard Street delivers four affordable condominium homes in another LEED Silver-certifiable building. Together, the Harvard Street developments demonstrate how multiple smaller projects can collectively strengthen an existing neighborhood while increasing access to affordable homeownership.
The work at BLUME on the Ave extends this approach to Mattapan. Developed with DVM Housing Partners, the three-building development brings 30 affordable homes and commercial space to the Lower Blue Hill Avenue corridor. At 1039 Blue Hill Avenue, the project introduces eight affordable homes alongside neighborhood-serving commercial space in a LEED Silver-certifiable, solar-ready building. Nearby, 1015–1019 Blue Hill Avenue provides 10 affordable homes, while 1028–1044 Blue Hill Avenue adds 12 more. Both buildings are also LEED Silver-certifiable and solar ready, completing a development that supports the continued revitalization of the corridor while strengthening connections between housing, businesses, and the surrounding community.
Projects in progress at 23 Nottingham, 94 Harvard, and 1028-1044 Blue Hill Ave.
Studio Luz’s work also reflects a growing commitment to designing affordable housing that performs well for decades to come. Working with Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, the firm is designing Talbot Commons, a two-site development that will bring 42 affordable homes to Dorchester. At 151 Spencer Street, 19 affordable rental homes are being delivered through a Passive House-certifiable building designed to support healthy, high-performance living. Nearby, 25 New England Avenue adds 23 affordable homes in another Passive House-certifiable development. Together, the two sites are designed to meet LEED Silver, Green Enterprise Communities, Net Zero, and Passive House standards, creating housing that is environmentally responsible while supporting long-term performance and affordability.
At 270 Talbot Avenue, Studio Luz is designing a mixed-use development that combines 18 affordable homeownership units with two neighborhood-serving commercial spaces in a LEED-certifiable building. By bringing together housing and commercial space, the project contributes to the continued growth of the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Eco-Innovation District. Meanwhile, 120–122 Hancock Street transforms an underutilized site into 15 affordable homes through a LEED Silver-certifiable, solar-ready development that strengthens the existing residential fabric of Dorchester.
Projects in progress at 25 New England Ave, 270-272 Talbot Ave, and 120-122 Hancock St.
Across all 12 projects, these developments demonstrate how thoughtful design, sustainable building practices, and meaningful partnerships can create homes that support stronger communities for generations to come. We’re proud to be involved in each of them and look forward to continuing our work in this space.