On Tuesday, March 10, Rogerson Communities presented Mayor Martin J. Walsh with the key to Beacon House on Myrtle Street in appreciation for his administration’s support of affordable housing for elders, and specifically for making it possible for Rogerson to obtain the financing needed to purchase the property.
James Seagle, Rogerson’s president, thanked MassHousing for lending it the maximum amount and said the city’s tax reduction allowed the group to “borrow the money we needed.”
Many members of the Beacon Hill community attended the ceremony including members of the Beacon House Corporation Board: Hal Carroll, Lise Lang Striar, David Morse and Nancy Marttila.
Residents of Beacon House also came out in force to show their appreciation. Thomas Hopkins, who uses a wheelchair and has lived at Beacon House for 15 years, described his home here as the “linchpin” of his success.
Hopkins, who also serves as executive director of the Architectural Access Board for Massachusetts, said, “I’ve become the citizen I was supposed to because I was able to live a full life.”
Walsh said it was crucial to preserve low-cost housing for seniors, even in the wealthiest neighborhoods. “
“You have to be sure there’s a component that’s affordable,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of organizations like this.”
The building has provided affordable housing since 1983, giving low-income residents an opportunity to live in the heart of the city. Of the 135 apartments, 85 are reserved for low-income seniors and 32 are rented to people with low and moderate incomes. The remaining 18 apartments are leased to Massachusetts General Hospital for out-of-town patients and visitors who cannot afford a hotel.