Stretching tight budgets to serve the community in Boston

Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is the largest public housing authority in New England, housing nearly 10% of the residents of the city of Boston. Having such a large portfolio of housing developments they are often faced with large scopes of repairs and fixed budgets in which to perform the work.

The Jones Payne Group was contracted by the BHA on two multi-development projects; Window Replacement/Improvements for 6 Developments and Building Envelope Improvements for 17 Developments. On both projects, an existing conditions survey was conducted and investigative report submitted. The Report included prioritization of the work and initial budgets for each development. Our approach to analyzing the data lead to a unique prioritization that allowed BHA to stretch their money to accomplish more work.

BHA had established budgets for both projects before the investigative phases; Jones Payne worked with them in establishing a phased approach. On the Window Improvement project this was a recognition that there was not enough funding to accomplish the replacements that were planned. Due to The Jones Payne Group’s existing conditions survey methods, we were able to establish that the BHA could use a 2 pronged approach. Units that were non-repairable were replaced and the others received repairs (e.g. replacement balances, limit stops, locks) to windows whose frames were already in good shape. Work on the Envelope Improvement project included repointing, sealant replacement, masonry replacement, concrete repair, lintel and shelf angle replacement, flashing and door replacement for ten of the seventeen developments. The buildings in Phase One were chosen using factors that helped the BHA continue to serve the community by minimizing the number of units taken off line while at the same time addressing latent problems that needed attention quickly.

Jones Payne is currently in the construction phase of the Torre Unidad development Envelope Improvements Project and in a subsequent design phase of work to the Seventeen Development project, and will be beginning design on a third phase of work with the Walnut Park Development. The Jones Payne Group sees our growing relationship with the BHA as a strong component of our commitment to creating livable communities and we will continue to innovate solutions that help organizations serve their communities.

For more information contact our Architecture Group in Boston, MA.