Rebuilding Faneuil Gardens: A Modern Plan for Mixed-Income Housing in Brighton

The Community Builders, the Boston Housing Authority, JGE Architecture & Design, MVRDV, and H+O Structural Engineering are advancing the redevelopment of Faneuil Gardens, a 7.5-acre public housing site in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood. .

The MVRDV-led masterplan introduces five new residential buildings totaling 441 mixed-income apartments, including 258 replacement units for current residents and 183 new affordable homes for households earning between 30% and 120% of AMI. Phase 1, designed by JGE Architecture & Design with H+O Structural Engineering, delivers the first new building and site infrastructure within the five-phase redevelopment.

Reconnecting the Neighborhood

The original Faneuil Gardens layout isolated the site from surrounding streets with limited access points and large surface parking areas. The new master plan reintroduces a clear street network centered on a pedestrian boulevard linking Faneuil Street to North Beacon Street. Landscaped courtyards, play areas, and open spaces are integrated between the buildings, offering residents a mix of shared and private outdoor environments.

Rendering 1 1 — Renderings courtesy of MVRDV.

"It was $500,000 saved on a $24M project. That is real money, right?"
- Dave Traggorth, Causeway Development

Coordinated Public Redevelopment

The redevelopment of Faneuil Gardens is part of the Boston Housing Authority’s long-term effort to modernize public housing and expand affordable supply across the city. Working with The Community Builders, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit housing developers, the project combines public oversight with private-sector design and delivery.

06 Faneuil Street — Renderings courtesy of MVRDV.

Designed for Cost Optimization

At H+O Structural Engineering, our cost-informed design aligns structure and cost from the start. Phase 1 of Faneuil Gardens demonstrates how coordinated design can renew public housing while maintaining efficiency and affordability. Plan your next multifamily or mixed-income development with structural systems protecting your pro forma from day one with H+O.