Framingham Housing Authority: Big Plans For Carlson Road

FRAMINGHAM, MA- The Framingham Housing Authority presented their multimillion dollar redevelopment plan for the 125-unit federal housing project, Carlson Crossing.

The current housing development is made up of 31 buildings along Carlson Road, Pusan Road and Beaver Street and has provided public housing to the city for over 60 years, being built in 1957.

The structures are currently made of simple wood frame and holds 12 one-bedroom units, 53 three-bedrooms and 12 four-bedrooms. The development is open to low and moderate-income residents and currently completely full with a waiting list to get in.

FHA Executive Director Paul Landers explained to the City Council Tuesday that the bringing the proposal to them was an important step in getting the project in front of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "The next phase is to get our application into HUD, get them to consider it, and then we can move on to the predevelopment steps," Landers said.

The current development is in need of serious repairs to the sewer, water piping and drainage systems and would benefit from updated mechanical and electrical systems as well as high-efficiency boilers to cut high energy costs.

While flipping through photos of the current conditions in a typical unit, Landers pointed out how outdated the kitchens and bathrooms were. "It's been a chip away effect for a long time down there,"Landers said. "No what we're finding is not only exterior infrastructure failures, but interior."

The project would not only focus on the rehabbing of the existing building in the development but building four new structures, giving the development a total of seven handicap accessible family units. The project also plans to incorporate shared public spaces and new courtyards. Amenities in the revamped development would include a basketball court and age appropriate playground and small spray pad.

The FHA is modeling this ambitious project off of their previous successful redevelopment of The Musterfield. Used as an example of successful public-private partnership, The Musterfield redevelopment fully renovated 110 units located off Route 126. The FHA will partner with the same private development company, Redstone Group, for the proposed Carlson Crossing Project.

City Councilor Michael Rossi, District 6, commended the FHA on their work with The Musterfield, "To see how it has transformed that I think that's a credit to the housing authority and everyone who has worked through that process," Rossi said, "if the same can be said for this area, I think it's a win-win."

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Framingham Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook! Got a news tip? Email samantha.mercado@patch.com)

Photo Credit: Framingham City Council