The city awarded ownership of the parcel--which includes 198 Geneva Ave. as well as 22 Beechwood St.--to Action for Boston Community Development in 1996 after the city conducted an extensive environmental cleanup of the site. The development company constructed 45, one-bedroom units on the site. The project also features community, conference, sitting and exercise rooms.

"Boston's housing market is pricing too many seniors out of the neighborhoods they grew up in and raised their families," says city Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Funding for this project was provided by the city's department of neighborhood development, HUD, the city's department of housing and community development and FHLB though Boston Private Bank.