Betty Greene Apartments
Description
Located in the heart of Jackson Square, Betty Greene Apartments is a model for high performance affordable housing that balances economy with high-quality dwelling and community spaces. The 100% affordable, transit-oriented, 65-unit development for Urban Edge is built on a previously developed site within walking distance of the MBTA Orange Line, and several bus routes, shops, and services. Named for longtime community advocate Betty Greene, the project honors her commitment to housing, education, and youth opportunity while offering individuals and families a place to live with dignity and stability.
With frontage on both Amory Street and Columbus Ave, the project activates the public realm by providing ground-level residential and community amenities as well as a 3,000 square foot neighborhood commercial space. Everyday rooms such as the mail area and laundry room are carefully designed as dignified social gathering spaces. Further, the angled facades clad in cost-effective corrugated metal panels respond to neighborhood scale and add visual interest both inside and out.
The Betty Greene Apartments is certified through the PHIUS+2018 standard. The design team integrated in-house Passive House consulting to optimize insulation, air tightness, and high performance glazing early in the design. The building envelope, along with right-sized systems including central energy recovery ventilation, VRF heating and cooling, and a 90kW solar array, contribute to multiple benefits for Urban Edge and its residents, including lower operational costs and carbon emissions, enhanced thermal comfort and indoor air quality, and greater levels of resilience.
