What Housing and Community Development Work Has Nuestra Comunidad Done in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan?

Updated

Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation is a Boston community development organization that, over more than 40 years, has developed over 900 affordable rental homes and nearly 200 affordable homeownership opportunities in Roxbury and surrounding neighborhoods. Its work combines property development with resident services, property management, and community-building efforts intended to anchor Black, Latino, and immigrant communities in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan.

Housing Development

Nuestra's core housing work falls into two categories:

  • Affordable rental homes: More than 900 units developed over 40+ years.
  • Affordable homeownership: Nearly 200 opportunities created.

The organization frames this work as ensuring that all Bostonians can share in the city's economic growth and prosperity, rather than being displaced by it.

Example Project: Dudley Crossing

Dudley Crossing, one of Nuestra's projects, received Phius Passive House certification, announced May 22, 2025. Passive House certification is a recognized standard for highly energy-efficient building performance, which matters for long-term affordability because it can reduce operating costs and environmental impact alongside the housing itself.

Resident Services and Property Management

Beyond building homes, Nuestra manages properties and runs resident services. According to the organization, residents participate in community meetings, block parties, and volunteer clean-street days—activities aimed at keeping neighborhoods welcoming and safe. Residents can access services through a dedicated Resident Portal.

Community Life and Local Economic Impact

Nuestra describes its community work as building "pride of place" through several concrete channels:

  • Supporting local culture
  • Employing local contractors and workers
  • Sustaining local businesses
  • Creating homeownership opportunities

These efforts are explicitly tied to anchoring Black, Latino, and immigrant communities in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan.

Organizational News: Planned Merger with Urban Edge

A significant development for anyone tracking the organization: Nuestra has announced plans to merge with Urban Edge. As of February 15, 2026, following a unanimous vote by Nuestra's Board of Directors, a new Board of Directors was appointed, and Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge, became Interim Executive Director of Nuestra. The organizations describe the merger as increasing their combined capacity, and it marks a major milestone in the process.

How to Engage

The website lists distinct contact paths depending on who you are:

You are… Entry point
A development partner Email via the Development Partners link
A resident Resident Portal
A donor or supporter Email via the Donors & Supporters link
Community member Events & updates page

The site also notes current availability of Boston commercial spaces for lease, and offers a newsletter signup ("Nuestra News").

What This Means in Practice

If you are researching Nuestra because you are looking for affordable housing in Roxbury, Dorchester, or Mattapan, the site's evidence points to a long track record of rental and homeownership development, but it does not publish unit-level availability or application details on the pages summarized here—the Resident Portal and direct contact are the appropriate next steps. If you are a partner, funder, or community member, the merger with Urban Edge is the most consequential current development and worth following for how services and programs may change.