Walnut Apartments
Description
Walnut Apartments is a 181-unit, transit-oriented redevelopment of an existing property for the Brookline Housing Authority. The development comprises two buildings delivered in phases — Phase 1 has achieved Phius Design Certification, with Phase 2 to follow — and will together provide 37 rental units at or below 30% AMI and 144 rental units between 30–50% AMI to the Brookline Village neighborhood.
The design approach for the redevelopment is driven by the need to replace the current inadequate structures and maximize the number of affordable housing units on the site, while drawing on best practices to ensure quality housing and community that meets the needs of families and the neighborhood.
The arrangement and scale of the buildings and the layout of landscaped and parking areas are developed in consideration of the need for phased construction to facilitate tenant relocation, the diverse character, scale, and uses of the adjacent streets and buildings, the varied topography, and the requirements of the recently adopted MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay District Zoning. In 2026, Phase 1 of the project received Phius Design Certification under the Phius CORE 2024 standard and is designed to be 100% electric, eliminating the need for on-site fossil fuel combustion for space conditioning and domestic water heating.
