Governor Healey announces $25 million Commonwealth Builder investment to create 123 homes for first-time buyers in Boston

Governor Healey on Thursday announced a $25 million investment in the Commonwealth Builder program to support projects that will create new homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers across Massachusetts, including 15 permanently affordable homes on Hancock Street in Beacon Hill.

The governor said the administration has prioritized housing ‘‘build more, build faster’’ reforms and credited recent policy changes and incentives for bringing roughly 100,000 homes to market. ‘‘Today’s awards are going to create 123 new homes specifically built for first-time home buyers,’’ she said, listing awards in Beacon Hill, Mission Hill, Roxbury and Brockton.

MassHousing CEO Crystal Cornay opened the event and introduced Healey. Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Wana Matias said the awards reflect strong municipal partnerships: the city provided land and matching funds, and the state program helps close the gap between construction costs and what first-time buyers can afford. Matias said some homes from the awards will be priced ‘‘as low as $200,000’’ and that some units will be available to households earning up to 120 percent of area median income (AMI).

Representative Jay Livingstone described the Hancock Street project as the neighborhood’s first affordable homeownership opportunity and credited neighborhood advocates, naming John Guliver and Harold Brink for their advocacy. Sunnid John of Fenway Forward said the Hancock Street award will convert two long-vacant historic buildings into 15 permanently affordable units serving households at 80 percent and 100 percent AMI; he also thanked Beth Israel Lahey Health for providing gap funding.

Dan Lester, chief of staff for Boston’s Office of Housing, said the city is the recipient of three of the four projects named today and provided a funding breakdown for the Hancock Street project: a $3.6 million city investment that includes $1.25 million in ARPA funds, together with $2.7 million in state investment. The other Boston projects named included the Mission Hill Pathway, which will create 44 homeownership opportunities alongside community open space, and a Nubian Square project expected to create 45 mixed-income homeownership units as part of a larger development.

Officials framed Commonwealth Builder as a scalable tool: Healey said the program was first funded with one-time pandemic-era dollars and has shown a ‘‘high ROI,’’ prompting continued state investment. The administration also noted complementary steps such as making plans for accessory dwelling units available online and eliminating broker fees for renters as part of a broader housing agenda.

The event concluded with an invitation for attendees to view project designs and visit the Hancock Street building; officials said future funding rounds will support additional homeownership projects. No vote or formal municipal approval was recorded at the event; the announcement described awards and funding commitments rather than a legislative or city council action.