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News:
Construction Design & Engineering
Posted: October 3, 2025
NEI General Contracting breaks
ground on affordable housing projects
Boston, MA NEI General Contracting has broken ground on two new affordable housing projects: one in Dorchester’s Grove Hall neighborhood and a second in the city of Cambridge. In Dorchester, NEI will work with the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp. (JPNDC) to bring the Cheney Homes community to life, while it will collaborate with HRI in Cambridge on the future home of 4 Mellen.
The Cheney Homes development will involve the demolition of an existing structure and construction of 48 new apartments for seniors aged 55 and older. Cheney Homes will feature service- and feature-rich units to allow older adults to age-in-place while still meeting key affordability measures, a critical housing need in many Massachusetts communities. The project will additionally incorporate a 3,500 s/f Senior Wellness Center, in partnership with Upham’s Corner Health Center, to serve all neighborhood seniors. Project partners include ICON Architecture, MassHousing, the City of Boston, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), CEDAC (Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation), MHIC, Dorfman Capital and MHP (Massachusetts Housing Partnership).
In Cambridge, NEI will oversee the unique combination of restoring a historic three-story mansion and constructing a six-story Passive House certified infill building. HRI’s 4 Mellen project represents the next generation of sustainable construction, where historic reuse is married with new construction Passive House design to create an affordable housing community. The 4 Mellen design will prioritize family-sized apartments, with 65% of the units being two- and three-bedroom units, for a total of 29 new homes. In addition to HRI, project partners include ICON Architecture, the City of Cambridge, the CEDAC, Citizens Bank, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, MHIC, and the MHP.
“When we look towards the future, it’s clear that delivering healthy living environments for residents in need of attainable housing solutions is where the construction industry is heading, and we’re pleased to be leading the way,” said Josef Rettman, president, NEI. “In addition, the project partners responsible for bringing these developments to life deserve our praise and appreciation for persevering in getting these exciting communities out of the ground.”
NEI is an experienced builder of affordable residential communities and routinely works with private developers and public agencies to bring much-needed housing stock to Massachusetts residents. The company is also an expert in Passive House construction and has emerged as a leader in delivering highly sustainable housing to individuals and families at or below the poverty line.
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