Treehouse at Olmsted Village
In an exciting new collaboration, Treehouse Foundation and 2Life Communities are bringing a nationally recognized model for affordable intergenerational community living to Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood. On track to open in 2028, Treehouse at Olmsted Village will be generationally inclusive and purpose driven, providing children who have experienced foster care and their families with a trauma-informed community dedicated to healing and well-being across generations.
Foster and adoptive families, young people at risk of aging out of the system alone, and older adults who become “honorary grandparents” will live together, creating a vibrant, joyful community that fosters a sense of belonging and meaningful connections between generations. Each community member will have almost countless ways to enjoy, appreciate, learn from, and teach others. Treehouse at Olmsted Village will be a safe space for kids to heal and all to thrive, setting up the next generation for success.
Site features
Olmsted Village is a bold new neighborhood vision. 2Life and Lena New Boston are transforming the final 10 acres of the former Boston State Hospital campus and creating a vibrant mix of affordable housing and supportive services. In addition to Treehouse, Olmsted Village includes Brooke House, 127 new affordable apartments with supportive services for older adults, to be developed by 2Life. Brooke House will also be home to the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center and the Shattuck Child Care Center, open to the broader Mattapan neighborhood. Lena New Boston is also developing 96 mixed-income home ownership units for families on the site.
Olmsted Village expands upon and benefits extensively from the already successful redevelopment of the first 42 acres of the former Boston State Hospital site. The prior 15-year community development effort, referred to as Olmsted Green, yielded over 500 units of mixed-income family rental, homeownership, and affordable senior housing; interactive open space connecting the residents of Olmsted Green to the neighboring Boston Nature Center and Franklin Park; and support for two community centers.
Project features
A world-renowned social justice architect from MASS Design Group and a participatory process have shaped every part of the design. We strive to ensure sustainability (e.g., building to Passive House standards) and beauty in the property while focusing on a built environment that promotes community building and the well-being of four generations. Years of experience and research supports mission-centered and trauma-informed design incorporating light, color, sightline, and layout elements that promote safety, calm, empowerment, comfort, and accessibility.
Treehouse at Olmsted Village will include:
- 12 large affordable apartments for foster, adoptive and kinship families
- 8 studio-sized affordable apartments for transition-age youth
- 46 affordable rental apartments for adults age 62+
- 5,000 square feet of community space, including a community center
- Additional communal areas such as a large shared kitchen, library and learning center, laundry room, playgrounds, community garden, and peaceful outdoor areas
For more information, visit the Olmsted Village website.
Construction highlights
Project team
Architect: MASS Design Group
Landscape Architect: Brown, Richardson +Rowe, Inc. (BRR)
Civil Engineer: Nitsch Engineering
Sustainability: New Ecology
Legal: Klein Hornig LLP
General Contractor: TBD
Construction updates
| Overall schedule | Estimated start | Estimated completion |
|---|---|---|
| Building construction | Late 2026 | Mid-2028 |
| Affirmative Marketing & Leasing | Late 2027 | Mid-2028 |
| Residential Lease-up / Occupancy | Mid-2028 | Late 2028 |
For more information
Check this page regularly, visit the Olmsted Village website here, or email our Real Estate Development team.
In addition, you can sign up below to be notified when the application period for these new apartments opens (about six months before project completion). At that time, we will provide you with information about the application and lottery process.