Wood Partners Breaks Ground in Boston

Wood Partners has broken ground on Alta Nashoba Valley, an all-electric 229-unit community in the Boston suburb of Bolton, Mass.

The property is scheduled to welcome its first residents in December. Approximately 25 percent of its units will be set aside as affordable housing.

Located immediately off of Interstate 495 in the Bolton Office Park campus, the community will offer a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Alta Nashoba Valley will be comprised of four three-story buildings, designed in New England style.

The community will feature a clubroom, workspaces, a fitness center, a private bar and dining area, a dog park, a playground, EV charging stations, a pet spa, a pool and firepits and grilling areas.

Alta Nashoba Valley will feature high-efficiency heat pumps and on-demand hot water systems, which will make all heating, cooling and cooking run on electricity. Going all-electric in the Massachusetts market is a new approach for non-subsidized housing and is more environmentally friendly than gas-powered facilities.

Alongside the construction of the community, Wood Partners is also working with city officials to finish the recreational Derby Field, relocate the community garden and contribute to the Memorial Field playground.

Last month, Wood Partners began construction on Alta Vista, a 304-unit multifamily project in Lehi, Utah. This property in the Salt Lake City suburb is expected to come online in the second quarter of 2027.

All-electric apartments gain traction

Michael Doty, senior director of originations, Northeast, Nuveen Green Capital, told Multi-Housing News that the trend towards building and designing all-electric communities is exciting from both an energy efficiency and long-term cost savings perspective.

“C-PACE financing was explicitly developed to fund clean energy upgrades over 15 years ago—and over time, as awareness has grown and the program has expanded (now available in 40 states and Washington, D.C.), the C-PACE industry has reached nearly $10 billion in cumulative originations,” he said.

NGC recently provided C-PACE financing for the Hotel Marcel in New Haven, Conn. The landmark, all-electric hotel is also the nation’s first net-zero hotel.

In downtown Evanston, Ill., Chicago-based Continuum Development is seeking community approval for an all-electric rental tower at 900 Clark St. The proposed 27-story, 358-unit building on Chicago’s North Shore will have units that are Illinois Stretch Energy Code-compliant. The community would be transit-oriented.

Evan Meador, co-founder and principal, Continuum Development’s, told MHN that his firm is attracted to this proposed project location given its proximity to the Metra, CTA, and the underutilized city-owned parking garage across the street.

“We believe this will promote sustainable and flexible transit options for prospective tenants while strengthening the city’s economic engine,” he said.