New Bedford Apartment Building Will Be Downtown’s Largest Construction Project in 38 Years

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Construction is about to begin in on a new "affordable residential community" at the site of the city's former Registry of Motor Vehicles building downtown.

Alinea Capital Partners announced that it will begin construction on 10@8th, a new affordable residential community on upper Union Street. It will include 52 units of housing for affordable to low- and moderate-income working families. It will be the largest new construction project downtown in 38 years.

Headquartered in Boston, Alinea Capital Partners is a real estate development and investment firm operating in Massachusetts, South Carolina and Florida.

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“After years of collaboration with the City of New Bedford and community leaders, we are pleased to begin construction of this landmark development. New Bedford’s working families deserve housing that is convenient, attractive and affordable,” Alinea Managing Member L. Duane Jackson said in a news release.

Funding for the project will come through a combination of city, state and federal resources, as well as the participation of private partners. Funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and other state and local resources are being used to finance the development.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell also awarded funding through the city’s Housing Expansion Initiative.

“I’m grateful to Duane and the Alinea team for their investment in New Bedford, and to our partners on the state and federal levels for their support. We’re proud of the team effort underway to ensure housing opportunities for residents at every income level,” Mitchell said in the release.

What's Planned for New Bedford's 10@8th?

Located at the former Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles building in the heart of downtown’s business, retail and entertainment centers, the building will feature views of New Bedford Harbor. It also won't be far from the new Southcoast Rail commuter rail station, which is set to open in 2024, although an exact date is uncertain.

Boston-based DHK Architects designed the project. The new five-story building will be certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and will use clean energy, including solar panels.

It will have an underground parking garage for 19 vehicles with designated electric vehicle (EV) ready spaces.

Completion is expected in mid-2025.