The Boston Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH) and the BSA have announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Co-Creating the Future-Decker initiative, focused on new models of multifamily housing that draw inspiration from the iconic triple-decker. Two city-owned sites—379 Geneva Ave in Dorchester and 569 River Street in Mattapan—were selected to address how housing at a middle-scale can help bridge a gap between small- and large-scale developments.

The RFP invites development teams to submit multi-family housing proposals for one or both of these city-owned lots.

“It will take every bit of creativity and collaboration to tackle Boston’s urgent housing crisis and ensure we are building a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m excited to see even more ideas and partnerships to move faster on creating affordable homes across our neighborhoods.”

The Co-Creating the Future-Decker RFP builds on work dating to 2020, including a 2021 Request for Ideas (RFI) that yielded five key RFP themes: adaptability and flexibility, living together, sustainability and health, materials and construction methods, and affordability.

In addition to the RFP release, the BSA and the Mayor's Office of Housing will host related events to support interested applicants:

• Pre-Applicant Information & Networking Conference: An in-person event to take place at the BSA Space on 290 Congress Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA 02210 on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 4:00 - 6:00 PM. Interested applicants will be provided with an overview of the application and development process; information on innovation focus of the RFP; basics of financing and financing options; and networking and team-building opportunities. Register now.
• Networking Session/Site Visits: An in-person session to take place at both sites included in the RFP on Friday, December 1, 2023, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. This will be an opportunity for interested potential developers, architects, development team members, community program operators, local businesses, and community members to network. Register now.
• Office Hours/Q&A: MOH and the BSA will host two (2) virtual drop-in sessions for potential respondents to attend. The first will take place on Thursday, December 14, 2023, 4:00 - 6:00 PM (Register now). The second on Thursday January 11, 2024, 4:00-6:00 PM (Register now).

BSA thanks the Boston Foundation, the Kuehn Charitable Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts for their support of this work.

Visit the City of Boston website for the press release marking the RFP's issuance and for more information on Future-Decker, a project timeline, and links to current RFPs.