APRIL 2019 NEI announced today the completion of Walker Park Apartments in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Boston for Urban Edge, a national leader in the community development field. This is NEI’s sixth project for Urban Edge and creates 49 units of affordable housing. The two-building apartment complex is named for Delphine Walker, founder of “Hands Around Egleston”, who was a tireless activist for the neighborhood and its children.

Located on three blighted, vacant urban infill sites surrounded by an otherwise active community, NEI handled the demolition and removal of existing structures before erecting two four-story buildings. Adjacent to a public library and public playground in a transit-rich community, 67 Walker Park has 32 units and 80 Walker Park has 17 units. Both apartment buildings have units ranging from one bedroom to three bedrooms.

“Urban Edge is continuing our well-established commitment to the community by building Walker Park Apartments, which creates 49 units of affordable family housing in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Boston. These homes will increase the stock of apartments in an area facing rapid gentrification,” said Emily Loomis, Director of Real Estate for Urban Edge. “We have a long-standing relationship with NEI General Contracting. They share our mission of strengthening communities and families by building affordable housing and vibrant, prosperous neighborhoods.”

The architectural firm Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, Inc. (PCA) worked closely with NEI, Urban Edge, the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development, MHP, the Boston Planning and Development Authority, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to expedite the approvals processes. On the design side, creative use was made of standard building materials, creating variation and interest in the façade. Unit sizes were trimmed slightly, counter lengths shortened, and other cost saving options explored ranging from adjustments to the building geometry to the potential elimination of half baths in some units to save significantly more money.

NEI’s Director of Northeast Construction Operations, Marc Marcelli, is donating his time to the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) to assist minority business enterprises (MBE) and women-owned business enterprises (WBE). As a participant in the program, NEI provided free technical assistance and business education to Hibbert after they were selected as the electrical contractor on the Walker Park Apartments project.