The plan calls for the developer to demolish and then replace the existing 1,100 public housing units with the same number of what the housing authority calls “deeply subsidized affordable housing units.” In addition, the developer can build another up to 1,300 housing units at the site. The breakdown of market rate, affordable and workforce housing units has not been determined, Agro says, and the total number of additional units could change.

The new 1,100 units will be offered to existing residents and future residents from the BHA's public housing waiting list. Existing Charlestown development residents will be offered relocation options that will include relocations to other BHA public housing sites or Housing Choice/Section 8 vouchers. Existing residents will have the right to return to the site after redevelopment, BHA officials state.

City officials announced the selection of the Corcoran Jennison-SunCal team late last week. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, who has a goal of creating 53,000 new housing units by 2030, says of the Corcoran-Jennison-SunCal selection, “"In order to meet the housing needs of all of our residents, we must think creatively to preserve our existing affordable housing stock, while developing new housing. I thank the Corcoran team for understanding that mission and look forward to what the future holds for this development."

The BHA issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in November 2014 asking the non-profit and for-profit development community for ideas about how to preserve public housing units. On June 17th of this year, which was appropriately “Bunker Hill Day” in Boston, the authority released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of the Charlestown site.

“Our low-income families, elderly and disabled residents need and deserve a bright future where their housing is secure,” says BHA administrator Bill McGonagle. “We're very pleased with the outcome of this process and look forward to working with the Charlestown community to bring the project to completion.”

Officials with Corcoran Jennision could not be reached for comment at press time. SunCal spokesman Joe Aguirre released a statement to Globest.com from the more than 80-year-old development firm that termed the Bunker Hill redevellopment project "a tremendous opportunity to create a new residential urban space that will enhance the area and be an asset to the greater Boston community." SunCal also states that "collaborating with our development partner in this venture, we will work to develop a new, quality neighborhood that will provide a diverse range of affordable and market-rate housing for the residents of Boston."