Mark Development, Beacon Communities, and RISE Together are collaborating to transform 299 Broadway in Somerville's Winter Hill neighborhood into a forward-thinking, mixed-use development. This Chapter 40B initiative aims to blend affordability, sustainability, and community engagement.
Developer: Mark Development
Address: 299 Broadway, Somerville, MA
Status: Approved (February 2023)
Estimated Completion: TBD
Total Units: 288 rental apartments
Retail Space: 13,640 SF
Civic Plaza & Park: 15,000 SF
Parking: None (car-free design)
Sustainability: Passive House-certifiable, Net Zero Ready
This development replaces a long-vacant Star Market site, revitalizing a key area in Winter Hill with a focus on community and environmental responsibility.
Utile Architecture & Planning leads the architectural design, emphasizing:
Contextual Integration: Building massing and façades reflect the neighborhood's historical character.
Sustainability: Designed to meet PHIUS certification standards, aligning with Somerville’s sustainability goals.
Public Connectivity: A mid-block mews provides pedestrian access and community interaction spaces.
Future Green Studio is responsible for landscape architecture, creating:
Civic Pocket Plaza: A public gathering space along Broadway.
Neighborhood Pocket Park: A green space on Sewall Street, enhancing urban ecology.
Mark Development: A Newton-based firm known for transit-oriented, mixed-use projects.
Beacon Communities: A Boston-based developer specializing in affordable housing, managing over 18,000 units across the Northeast.
RISE Together: A minority-owned development firm led by Herby Duverné, focusing on community-first urban redevelopment.
As of mid-2025, the Greater Boston multifamily market continues to show signs of resilience despite elevated interest rates and tighter development margins. Demand for well-located, transit-accessible rental housing remains strong—especially in walkable, urban neighborhoods like Somerville. According to CoStar, the U.S. multifamily sector absorbed over 175,000 units in Q3 2024, and while new starts have slowed due to financing constraints, stabilized assets and projects offering affordability and sustainability features—like 299 Broadway—are outperforming peers. In Somerville, vacancy rates remain below the metro average, and renter interest in car-free, eco-conscious living options is helping drive sustained leasing velocity in mixed-use communities.
Stay informed about the progress of 299 Broadway and other transformative projects in Somerville. If you're involved in this development and wish to contribute further details, please reach out to us.
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