Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) have begun construction on Columbia Crossing, a mixed-use affordable housing project in the Upham’s Corner neighborhood. The development is located at the historic Dorchester Savings Bank Hall site on Columbia Road, where the nonprofit partners were selected to lead the project through a competitive, community-driven RFP process.
The plan calls for a 48-unit affordable apartment building to rise on the current parking lot behind the former bank building. All of the residential units are described as affordable, adding new income-restricted housing options in a neighborhood that state and local leaders have identified as needing additional supply. Alongside the residential component, the development will incorporate 3,500 square feet of commercial space, positioning Columbia Crossing as a small-scale community-serving mixed-use asset.
The historic Dorchester Savings Bank Hall, located at 568-574 Columbia Road, will be refurbished as part of the project scope. The existing structure is set to be expanded and converted into a modern exhibition space, representing an adaptive reuse of the bank building rather than a ground-up replacement. This approach preserves the architectural presence of the legacy property while introducing a new cultural and community-oriented use.
Project funding is described as coming from a combination of public and private sources, reflecting a layered capital stack frequently used for affordable housing and community development efforts. While specific amounts and participants are not disclosed, the structure underscores the role of public subsidy and private capital working together to deliver below-market housing and neighborhood amenities.
Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Juana Matias highlighted the initiative as an important addition to the Upham’s Corner housing stock. She noted that the creation of 48 new homes, combined with the adaptive reuse of the Dorchester Savings Bank building, will help ensure that residents of Dorchester continue to have affordable options to call home. With construction now underway, Columbia Crossing advances a long-discussed plan to blend preservation, new housing, and community-facing commercial and exhibition space on a prominent corridor.
