Braintree Real Estate Co. Transitions Jamaica Plain Homes to Smoke-Free

Peabody Properties, Inc. – a full-service, Braintree-based real estate company – in collaboration with the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), was recently asked to help transition six affordable housing properties in Jamaica Plain into smoke free housing units. 

The properties include the Angela Westover House, the Julia Martin House, the Nate Smith House, Dona Betsaida Housing, 270 Centre Street, and the Pondview Apartments. All of these residences are owned by JPNDC and managed by Peabody Properties. Together, project partners will work within a budget of $20,000 – awarded by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) – in an effort to convert a total of two-hundred and thirty-eight housing units.

According to Peabody Properties Vice President Karen Fish Will, the company is dedicated to playing a leadership role in managing the transition process in a manner that is inclusive and sensitive to residents:

“Smoke free housing will benefit Jamaica Plain residents in ways that are real and measurable. These positive changes will result in improved air-quality and provide a healthier living and working environment for the buildings’ residents, staff and guests.” 

Through the BPHC grant award, Peabody Properties and JPNDC were able to hire an Outreach Coordinator to educate building residents on both the new policy and the health and safety issues posed by smoking, including the effects of second hand smoke. 

The twenty-five residents who self-identified as smokers during a survey conducted by the Outreach Coordinator will have access to individual smoke free education, support groups and assistance with smoking cessation resources at no cost. As part of this project, these housing sites have received pro bono support from the Public Health Policy and Strategy Center at Health Resources in Action, Inc. and the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law.

The smoke free housing transition is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2012.

–Peabody Properties