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Breaking Ground | Casas Borinquen to Deliver Renewed and New Affordable Housing in Boston’s South End

On July 22, 2025, IBA will break ground on a transformative redevelopment of Casas Borinquen, one of the original residential developments that make up Villa Victoria in Boston’s South End. This exciting milestone marks the beginning of a thoughtful and deeply impactful rehabilitation project that will preserve and modernize 36 affordable housing units across nine historic brick buildings and develop five new affordable units, ultimately ensuring long-term stability for families and much needed housing.

This work is made possible through funding from MassHousing, Santander, Hudson Housing Capital, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Community (EOHLC) and Massachusetts Historic Commission and in collaboration with architectural design partners like Social Impact Collective and Davis Square Architects, who are helping bring a shared vision of vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive housing to life.

“Casas Borinquen represents more than just housing. It reflects IBA’s commitment to providing our community with homes that are both affordable and developed to high quality standards,” said Mayra I. Negrón-Roche, IBA Boston’s Chief Operating Officer. “This project is about honoring our history while investing in a future where families can continue to live, grow, and thrive in the South End. We’re especially proud to convert our former administrative office into new affordable housing, a creative and mission driven reuse of space that reflects our commitment to meeting the needs of our community. We’re proud to lead this effort alongside partners who share our vision.”  

Revitalizing a Historic Corner of Villa Victoria

Casas Borinquen is one of four original housing developments that make up Villa Victoria, IBA’s community-driven housing portfolio. Spread across nine historic brick townhouses, the 36 current units at Casas Borinquen serve low- to moderate-income families in the South End. This renovation marks a significant investment in preserving and uplifting that legacy for generations to come.

In addition to upgrading kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas, IBA will be fully electrifying the development, transitioning from fossil fuels to energy-efficient heat pumps, electric stoves, and modernized HVAC systems. Additionally, the project includes roof replacements, masonry repointing, and a groundwater recharge system to better support environmental resilience. This sustainability push reflects IBA’s broader commitment to climate-resilient affordable housing.

Addressing the Housing Crisis

As part of this expansion, IBA will also convert its former administrative offices at 403 Shawmut Avenue into five new two-bedroom affordable units, along with ground-floor community space. This development is a continuation of IBA’s mission to preserve and expand equitable housing opportunities in the community by transforming underutilized spaces and creating new opportunities for families to live in Boston's South End in sustainable, high-quality, affordable homes.  

Preserving Affordability with Purpose

As Boston’s housing crisis continues, projects like Casas Borinquen serve as crucial models for how preservation and innovation can coexist. Rather than replace the existing housing, IBA is investing in what already works, which is community-rooted, affordable housing in neighborhoods at risk of displacement.

In keeping with that mission, IBA has prioritized working with partners who are not only experts in the field, but also deeply aligned with its values. One such collaborator is Social Impact Collective (SIC), a growing architecture firm co-founded by Michael Chavez. In collaboration with Davis Square Architects, SIC is playing a hands-on role in design production and weekly site engagement. This project marks their first engagement with IBA and showcases a shared commitment to equitable design, community-led development, and expanding access to high-quality, affordable housing.  

“Collaborating with IBA and Davis Square Architects on this project has been an exciting opportunity for Social Impact Collective to put our values into action,” said Michael Chavez, Co-Founder of Social Impact Collective. “We see this as more than just a project, it’s a chance to demonstrate that high-quality, energy-efficient, and comfortable living can be accessible at every income level. We’re proud to be part of something that’s setting the tone for future community developments and can’t wait to be on site to see the hammers start swinging.”  

A Vision for 2026 and Beyond

Set for completion in 2026, the Casas Borinquen rehab and expansion places emphasis on what equitable development can look like when community voices lead. In addition to restoring historical buildings, these investments preserve culture and opportunity in a rapidly changing city.

As IBA continues to build and preserve affordable housing, it remains focused on its mission: to ensure that long-time residents and new families alike can thrive in a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable South End.

We look forward to welcoming partners, residents, and neighbors on July 22 to mark the start of this important new chapter for Casas Borinquen.

Stay connected with IBA on social media to follow the journey as this project unfolds. 

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