The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the Cambridge Housing Authority a $2.1 million competitive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant for energy improvements at Jefferson Park Apartments, a 175 unit family public housing development in North Cambridge. 

The award for Jefferson Park marks the fifth competitive stimulus grant awarded to CHA, making the Agency, on a per-apartment basis the 6th largest recipient of competitive ARRA grants amongst the nation’s large public housing agencies.  In total, CHA has received over $28 million dollars in stimulus funds for improvements to the city’s chronically underfunded public housing developments. 

“Thanks to these stimulus funds we are finally able to begin addressing the long-standing physical needs of the city’s public housing stock,” said CHA Executive Director Gregory P. Russ.  “The federal buildings at Jefferson Park haven’t seen significant rehabilitation in over 20 years.  Absent this once in a generation opportunity, properties throughout the City were facing the end of their useful lives.  ”

The stimulus funds combined with other public and private funds will dramatically improve Jefferson Park’s energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and improve the quality of life for the 175 low-income families who call Jefferson Park home. 

Improvements will include:

•    Replacing inefficient boilers and installing high efficiency variable frequency drives to the water circulating pumps.  These improvements are estimated to increase heat pump efficiency by at least 10%.

•    Replace leaky 24 year old roofs with fully adhered Energy Star compliant roofs and improve roof drainage systems.

•    $1.5 million from Boston Community Capital/Solar Energy Advantage for installation of solar photovoltaic panels and additional energy conservation improvements.

•    Replace shower heads and kitchen and bath faucets with low-flow models to reduce water consumption by 10%, reducing costs by $20,000 per year.

In addition to reducing operating costs, improving residents’ lives, reducing energy consumption and extending the useful lives of the City’s housing stock, CHA’s stimulus projects will inject over $150 million into the local economy.