VietAID’s second large affordable housing project on Bowdoin Street will receive $3.3 million in city funding to move forward, Boston housing officials and Mayor Wu announced last week.
Hollins Park, a 33-unit, all-affordable building will rise four stories at 190 Bowdoin St., a space that currently includes a vacant home that dates to 1810.
The overall price tag for the project, which will also include office space on the ground floor and eight off-street parking spaces, is $24 million.
“We’re very excited to get funded by [the Mayor’s Office of Housing],” said George Huynh, the executive director of VietAID. “Potentially, if we get state funding next year, we can pull together the team and get going in 2027.
VietAID Director George Huynh, Project Consultant Kate Bosse, and architect Laura Cella-Mowatt during last week’s funding ceremony at the Mayor’s Office of Housing downtown. Seth Daniel photo
“This is a great project,” he added. “The design looks great and it’s right across the street from Dorchester Food Co-op that we did in 2022.”
Architect Laura Cella-Mowatt, of Davis Architects, said the project has already won initial permission from city planners.
“The design across the street used red and darker red colors,” she said. “This is a calm blue, and I think it balances out the block well. I think the overall design balances it pretty well.”
The home that dates to 1810 was acquired by VietAID from the Hollins family in 2024.
A city archaeology team plans to visit the site in May prior to any prep work or demolition. Also, the Article 85 Demolition Delay process with the Boston Landmarks Commission still has to be navigated.
In addition to VietAid, 12 other projects were funded citywide last week. “I took a look at these projects by myself one day and there are a lot of high-quality applications,” said Housing Chief Sheila Dillon.
“I was pretty blown away at how they came in this year for this funding round,” she said. “They were all so thoughtful and well designed and I know they were also designed with good community input.”
Mayor Wu stopped by the ceremony and praised the MOH for taking a different approach to presenting the funded projects.
“We have a lot more to do with housing and now it’s not easy…but we’re finding a way for Boston to be an inspiration,” said the mayor.
Seth Daniel
https://www.dotnews.com/2026/04/22/affordable-33-unit-bowdoin-street-project-wins-city-funding/ on April 22, 2026