Fully Affordable Housing Redevelopment Breaks Ground in Salem

Beacon Communities has broken ground on Leefort Terrace, a new 124-unit all-affordable housing development in Salem, MA.

The project replaces outdated garden-style apartments originally built in the 1950s and located in a coastal floodplain. The new all-electric, Passive House-certified buildings are designed to be climate-resilient and built well above the predicted 2070 floodplain levels.

Bohler’s New England team  helped design the site with a partially buried podium, providing 100 parking spaces below.

The project is financed through a mix of federal, state, and local resources, including  Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), State LIHTC, State subsidy, Salem ARPA, Salem CPA, and various energy efficiency incentives.

“We are grateful to our partners at the local, state and federal level, as well as to the Salem Housing Authority, for their collaboration and commitment to expanding housing opportunities that will reduce our carbon footprint and be affordable for generations to come,” said Dara Kovel, CEO of Beacon Communities.

Amenities will include a fitness center, community room, wellness office, and outdoor spaces, like a private courtyard and public areas along Colins Cove. Bohler’s team incorporated direct waterfront access and connection to downtown Salem’s amenities and transit.

The initiative reflects a commitment to addressing housing affordability and climate challenges in the community. “Leefort Terrace is the gold standard for affordable and climate-resilient public housing,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities.

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