ICON Architecture

Overlook Terrace transformed an obsolete 15-acre public housing site into a leading-edge, sustainable,  331-unit affordable residential community, informed by two years of community discussion.  The heart of this re-connected community is the central green, a lushly landscaped open space for families to gather and grow. The public housing residents are rehoused in high-performing, energy-efficient, gracious, and sustainable low-rise and mid-rise buildings, arrayed across this hillside site. Rhythmic stoops along the streetscapes and terraced outdoor meeting spaces create a new image for this visible location just north of Boston.  

The total build-out includes three four-story mid-rise buildings, nine townhouse buildings, and seven modernized rowhouse buildings: 

• Phase One comprises 120 apartments in 5 new buildings, achieving LEED Platinum, complete in 2018.  
• Phase Two consists of 88 apartments in 3 new buildings, achieving LEED Gold, complete in 2020. This phase at the center of the site includes the Community meeting room, Food Pantry, and play area.  
• Phase Three creates 123 apartments in a new construction midrise, 3 rowhouse buildings, and the modernization of 42 existing rowhouses in 7 buildings, complete in 2023.  The modernization achieved LEED certifiable status for O&M, while the new construction buildings achieved LEED Gold. 

All buildings achieved Enterprise Green Communities certifiability, and are scheduled to begin solar PV installation to offset common electrical utility costs. The entire site is scheduled to begin solar PV installation to offset common electrical utility costs.  

Improvements to public infrastructure create a total of almost 4,000 linear feet of improved public streets, including widened sidewalks, new trees, additional parking, lighting and signage. The one-acre public park offers a range of open spaces for neighbors to gather, walking paths, play spaces, and a new bus stop, truly the center of the reimagined community.