►
Description
Mayor Walsh and Governor Baker joined the Age Strong Commission to celebrate the grand opening of the 2Life Communities Harry and Jeannette House on Chestnut Hill in Brighton. 2Life communities, formerly known as Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly, provide housing and community opportunities for 1,500 low-income older adults of all backgrounds.
A
A
It
is
the
product
of
very
deep
partnerships
with
all
the
levels
of
government,
quasi
government,
philanthropists,
sister
nonprofit
agencies
and
because
of
these
partnerships,
it
is
awesome.
It
will
be
no
surprise
to
anyone
here
that
when
we
opened
the
waiting
list,
1,000
people
submitted
their
applications
clamoring
for
one
of
only
61
apartments.
A
The
demand
is
huge
and
sadly
there
are
precious
few
housing
communities
that
combine
the
dynamic,
supportive
engaging
environments.
Our
seniors
want
with
the
affordability
they
need.
So
while
today
we
celebrate
both
the
preservation
of
all
209
Apartments
at
adjacent
Kurla
house
and
the
61
new
units.
Here
we
are
working
like
crazy
to
expand
our
reach
so
that
more
older
adults
can
age
in
community.
We
have
right
now
62
all
affordable
apartments
under
construction
in
Brookline,
in
our
partnership
with
Congregation,
killeth,
Israel
I.
Think
rabbi,
Hamilton
is
here
as
well
as
rabbi
Baker
from
cjp.
B
A
A
So
since
we
have
eight
speakers,
I'm
gonna
get
right
to
introducing
first,
our
amazingly
wonderful
governor,
who
has
demonstrated
from
day
one
his
commitment
to
both
addressing
the
concerns
of
older
adults
and
to
the
very
deep
need
for
affordable
housing.
Now,
as
the
most
popular
governor
in
the
country,
he
doesn't
eat.
My
compliments
so
I'm
just
going
to
offer
a
few
observations
since
coming
into
office.
Not
only
did
he
sign
the
largest
housing
bond
bill
in
the
history
of
the
Commonwealth
right
here
on
this
very
spot.
A
A
A
He
also
created
the
Governor's
Council
to
address
Aging
in
Massachusetts
I'm,
so
privileged
to
serve
on
that
council
and
that
council
has
advanced
a
wide
range
of
significant
recommendations
which
are
now
being
implemented
amazingly
aggressively
to
the
good
of
all
of
our
state's
older
adults
and
as
a
result,
Massachusetts
is
now
in
the
very
first
age
and
dementia-friendly
states
in
the
whole
country
and
on
this
particular
project.
You
think
he
couldn't
worry
about
it,
but
on
this
particular
project
he
personally
intervened
to
help
out
when
we
hit
a
major
glitch.
A
C
So,
first
of
all,
maybe
I
just
want
to
take
you
with
me
and
have
you
introduced
me
everywhere?
I
speak
for
the
next
three
and
a
half
years.
So,
first
of
all,
it's
great
to
be
here-
and
this
really
is
this-
was
a
team
sport.
This
project,
you
had
the
involvement
of
federal
government,
the
state
government,
the
city
government,
the
wonderful
and
awesome
to
life
communities,
and
so
many
other
organizations
that
were
part
of
making
this
happen
and
and
I
was
intern
housing
event.
C
Earlier
today,
where
I
said
that
our
problem
in
Massachusetts
is
not
that
we
don't
have
a
great
local
community
leadership
and
great
state
leaders
and
operators
and
great
local
nonprofit
and
housing
developers.
We
do.
We
have
all
of
that
and
having
first
hand
had
a
chance
to
work
with
and
to
see
a
lot
of
the
projects
and
a
lot
of
the
work
they've
done
over
the
course
of
the
past
four
and
a
half
years.
C
I
know
that
what
we
don't
have
is
enough,
and
over
and
over
again
I've
talked
to
my
colleagues,
especially
in
local
government
and
most
of
the
rules
associated
with
how
we
do
housing
in
Massachusetts
are
more
than
50
years
old,
and
it
is
absolutely
positively
affecting
our
ability
to
keep
up
with
the
growth
in
our
population,
the
aging
our
population.
Our
senior
community,
is
now
the
fastest
growing
as
a
62
year
old
I
happen
to
know
this.
C
C
And
we
are
looking
forward
to
getting
a
housing
production
bill
done
this
year,
because
I
know
we
have
great
organizations.
I
know
we
have
great
communities
and
great
builders
and
great
developers
and
great
nonprofits,
but
we
really
need
more
than
that.
We
have
a
ton
of
dry
powder
in
that
bond
bill
that
we
worked
on.
What
we
need
is
more
capacity
to
develop
more
housing
more
quickly,
and
hopefully
we
get
that
legislation
done
and
turn
and
turn
this
Commonwealth
and
we
used
to
produce
30,000
new
units
of
housing.
C
Every
year
we
now
produce
about
eight
or
ten
and
we've
been
10,000.
We've
been
doing
that
for
30
years
and
we've
grown
a
economy.
We've
grown
our
population.
We
have
a
lot
to
do
to
make
sure
seniors.
Families,
young
people,
have
options,
have
possibilities
that
can
build
whatever
future.
It
is
they're
looking
at
built
right
here
and
an
affordable
way
in
the
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts,
but
mostly
today,
I
just
want
to
say
to
Amy
and
the
rest
of
the
team.
Congratulations.
This
is
a
great
project.
It
was
always
a
great
project.
I'm.
C
A
Mayor
Walsh
has
certainly
set
a
high
standard
for
leadership
on
the
affordable
housing
issue.
Early
on
in
his
term,
he
brought
together
a
broad-based
group
of
community
members
and
organizations.
I
was
very
proud
to
serve
on
that
group
to
create
a
bold,
meaningful
strategy
for
the
city's
needs,
which
culminated
in
housing
a
changing,
City,
Boston
2030.
The
plan
set
aggressive
goals
in
a
series
of
mechanisms
to
achieve
them,
and
the
mayor
has
ever
since
been
putting
his
money,
his
resources
to
talent
where
his
mouth
is
so
to
speak.
A
This
project
is
one
of
many
examples
of
his
great
strategy.
First,
this
was
once
vacant
city
on
land.
The
plan
suggested
that
become
available
for
affordable
housing,
so
he
did
that
every
year
the
mayor
has
put
serious
city
dollars
into
the
budget
to
support
affordable
housing
development
in
every
neighborhood
of
the
city
and
since
the
plan
identified
seniors
as
the
fastest-growing
and
most
economically
challenged
demographic,
the
housing,
2030
funding
rounds
have
set
senior
and
supportive
housing
as
a
priority
plan,
also
recognized
the
increasing
in
homelessness
of
older
adults.
A
A
Our
partner
on
that
is
hearth,
it's
represented
here
today
by
Allen
Feingold,
a
founding
board
member
and
my
very
special
lovely
predecessor.
You
know
a
quick
aside
when
Allen
helped
found
Hart.
It
was
because
at
the
time
can
you
believe
it
HUD
wouldn't
allow
us
here
to
house
homeless
seniors,
and
so
they
formed
hearth.
So
imagine
her
joy
today
and
seeing
the
two
strands
of
her
work
finally
come
together.
In
addition
to
all
this
housing
work,
Boston's
aged
strong
Commission
is
probably
the
best
in
class
for
the
entire
country.
A
It
leads
the
way
for
Boston
to
be
a
pioneer
in
the
age-friendly
City
movement,
ever
responses,
staff
and
programs
and
as
a
result
of
their
clever
work
with
elders.
The
mayor
initiated
just
recently
and
testified
I
believe
yesterday
and
just
cause
eviction
legislation
which
would
prohibit
no-fault
eviction
for
people
over
75
and
limit
rent
increases
for
them
to
five
for
sending
their.
This
will
create
such
an
important
safety
net
for
all
our
communities,
elders
who
aren't
living
with
us.
A
D
D
I'm
only
52,
so
I
want
to
make
sure
that
before
I'm
done
in
public
life,
we
can
take
care
of
that
governor.
So
he
has
a
place
to
stay,
so
I'm
really
worried
about
that.
I
wanna
make
sure,
but
I'm
I
want
to
watch
this.
A
lot
of
people
are
thanking
and
I
know.
Let
me
stop
by
thanking
the
community.
That's
here
today.
First
of
all,
thank
you
feel
incredible
work.
Thank
you
for
your
patience,
thank
you
to
all
the
providers
and
funders
and
everyone
who
had
anything
to
do
with
with
this
project.
D
It
was
amazing.
I
want
to
give
a
shout
out
to
the
governor
seriously
for
his
commitment
to
housing
and
the
bond
bill,
along
with
representing
Honan
passing
that
bond
bill,
and
so
many
other
vehicles
they
use.
I
want
to
thank
the
governor's
team.
That's
here
today.
We
look
at
the
team
that
the
governor
has
it
today.
This
is
his
top
administration.
Is
here
today
and
you
think
about
housing.
It's
about
housing.
D
It's
about
job
creation
is
about
helping
Human
Services
about
making
sure
people
feel
good,
and
they
want
to
thank
them
all
for
their
incredible
work.
I
want
to
thank
you.
Elected
officials
in
this
neighborhood
Kevin
is
certainly
the
the
chimin
of
housing
at
the
State
House,
but
he's
also
the
representative
in
this
neighborhood,
and
he
cares
deeply
about
housing,
not
just
fall
stand
Brighton,
but
for
the
entire
chromel
of
Massachusetts,
Mike,
Murray
and
I
know
it's
on
his
way
here.
D
I
want
to
thank
represented
Moran
for
his
leadership
councils
feel
more
as
well
for
his
leadership
and
I
want
to
today,
as
at
a
meeting
with
some
providers
within
the
city
council
chamber
that
councillor
George
put
together.
That
was
talking
about
homelessness
and
if
we
don't
feel
more
of
this,
we're
going
to
have
a
bigger
issue
on
the
homeless,
homeless,
side
and
I
want
to
thank
the
council
as
well
for
her
leadership
in
that
area.
To
my
team,
Emily
Shea
Sheila,
Dylan
Billy,
my
Bonneville
Kate
Bennett
Brian
golden.
Thank
you
all
for
what
you
do.
D
I
am
blessed
as
the
governor's
with
his
team.
We
have
blessed,
we
get
to
stand
up
here
and
smile
and
cut
the
ribbon,
but
really
it's
the
people
that
are
with
us
every
day
that
do
the
work
that
make
that
make
the
wheels
run
on
the
on
the
train
on
the
bus.
Whatever
you
want
to
call
it,
it's
so
important
that
it's
that
we
move
forward.
D
D
But
it's
been
great
watching
this
building
and
I
grow
and
in
the
very
beginning
it
was
a
little
slow
and
then,
when
it
just
shot
up
after
that
and
I've
been
out
and
out
in
this
neighborhood
a
lot
and
I'm
driven
by
this
building
a
lot
and
watch
this
comes
to
fruition
and
it's
great
to
see
what
61
know
affordable
homes
for
seniors
look
like
with
all
the
supports.
They
need
to
be
comfortable
and
independent
retail
space
to
create
opportunities
for
the
neighborhood
amenities
and
programs
on
true-life
campuses.
It's
it's
supportive.
D
The
design
is
supportive
and
thoughtful
both
inside
and
outside
it's
more
than
an
apartment.
It's
a
quality
of
life.
It's
a
it's
a
social
connection
and
it's
certainly
a
community
I'm,
proud
of
the
commitment
of
both
the
city
and
the
state
here,
and
every
senior
deserves
to
be
safe
and
live
in
a
welcoming
place,
and
that's
our
job.
We're
not
here
to
get
accolades
about
about
us
working
together
or
working
at
all.
D
That's
our
job
to
do
every
day,
and
it's
great
to
see
that
Boston
is
a
city,
that's
home
for
everyone,
no
matter
what
your
age
or
race,
your
income,
that's
the
goal
of
our
housing
plan
here
in
the
City
of
Austin,
and
we
worked
with
the
Metro
mayor's
coalition.
That
was
with
all
the
Metro
mayor's
as
well
to
think
about.
How
do
we
do
this,
and
the
governor's
legislation
is
going
to
help
move
that
move
that
number
of
185,000
years
new
housing
in
the
region
forward
to
give
us
the
tools
we
need?
D
So
it
is
important
that
we
continue
to
advocate
for
legislation
and
continue
to
work
together
to
live
communities
is
one
of
the
most
trusted
senior
housing
providers
in
Boston
and
there
you
can
honestly
say
this.
I
think
we
don't
I
can
probably
say
the
same
thing.
We
have
a
lot
of
complaints
about
different
things,
kind
of
the
complaint
of
the
day,
the
hour,
the
complaint
in
the
island.
One
of
the
things
is
consistent
since
I've
been
the
mayor
and
I
know.
D
A
Now
another
key
partnership
here
is
with
the
Department
of
Developmental
Services
within
the
executive
office
of
Health
and
Human
Services.
As
we
started
to
plan
this
building,
we
learned
of
a
new
need
of
older
adults
aging
with
lifelong
disability,
developmental
disabilities,
who
were
out
living
the
appropriateness
of
their
housing
and
needed
specialized
age
friendly
services.
A
We
left
at
the
chance
to
be
the
pilot
for
a
partnership
model
of
integration
into
a
larger,
older
adult
community,
and
so
we
have
five
apartments
set
aside
here
for
those
clients
with
our
special
partners,
Diane
Gould,
representing
advocates
here,
it's
been
working
out
great
now.
Initially
I
was,
at
this
point,
going
to
call
up
secretary
Mary,
Lou
Sutter's,
to
talk
about
the
partnership,
but
true
to
form
she
said.
Oh
no
I
would
like
to
let
one
of
the
people
in
those
units
have
the
first
shot.
E
Multiple
thank
everybody
for
coming.
I
haven't
seen
so
many
people
in
and
one
time
so
it's
so
much
like
this,
but
I
got
a
few
words
to
say
good
afternoon.
My
name
is
Jim
I'm
proud
to
be
here.
The
white
bird
house
and
you've
so
happy
to
be
here
today
and
grateful
to
have
the
chance
to
thank
all
of
you
person
who
had
a
role
in
Mike's
forever,
home
and
I
could
open
Boston
roofline
I
have
never
been
able
to
go
to
bed
comfortably
somewhere.
E
E
A
A
Both
the
governor
I
mentioned
there
were
some
pretty
big
glitches
in
the
in
the
development
process
here
and
there
was
one
day.
I
was
just
at
the
end
of
my
rope.
I
felt
incredible
despair
so
at
midnight
on
a
Friday
night,
I
wrote
an
email
to
Mary,
Lou,
Sutter's
I
thought:
okay,
she'll
read
it
Monday
midday
and
by
the
end
of
the
week
maybe
I'll
hear
back
from
her.
Oh
no
I
turned
to
my
computer
Saturday
morning
at
9:00
a.m.
not
only
that
she
already
set
in
motion
the
response
to
fix
the
thing
she
made.
A
Secretary
centers
also
co-chairs
the
Governor's
Council
to
address
Aging
in
Massachusetts,
and
she
has
been
just
an
incredibly
inspiring
leader
in
that
role.
First,
she
slept
off
all
over
the
state
to
listen
to
constituents
which
I
think
is
her
trademark.
Then
she
organized
our
work
to
come
up
with
really
exciting
Center
recommendations.
Then
she
shepherded
those
through
magnificent
to
make
them
into
implementation.
F
F
F
A
F
A
F
F
F
He
gives
me
nothing
other
than
to
say,
go
and
figure
out
what
we
need
to
do
and
then
we
will
find
the
path
to
make
it
happen,
and
housing
has
been
one
of
the
core
pieces
of
the
Governor's
Council
on
optimal
aiding,
as
well
as
healthcare,
transportation
and
economic
security.
So
we
will
find
that
way
going
forward
as
a
social
worker
I
do
believe,
actually
answer
making
connections.
So
when
you
emailed
me
that
night
all
I
did
is
the
governor
was
whispering
to
me,
was
I
just
sort
of
hover
over
things
to
make
them
happen.
F
So
thank
me
thank
you
for
having
me
thank
you
for
this
when
you
need
when
I
do
retire
and
you
need
a
housing,
you
know
manager.
Let
me
know
I'm
really
good
at
that.
The
mayor
has
promised
that
he'll
make
sure
I
have
a
place
in
a
few
years
to
live
so
truly
from
my
heart
to
yours.
Congratulations,
Aloha,.
A
So,
as
you
can
see,
the
governor
really
knows
how
to
pick
cabinet
members
so
I'm
thrilled
that
we're
also
joined
by
secretary
connealy
here
today,
since
assuming
his
role
recently,
he
has
made
housing
a
top
priority
and
talked
about
schlepping.
He
has
traversed
the
state
up
and
down
drumming
up
support
for
the
housing
choice,
legislation,
that's
so
crucial
to
our
future.
As
he
says,
it's
all
about
production
and
he
has
partnered
beautifully.
A
Haven't
you
said
that,
like
a
million
times
he's
partner
beautifully
under
secretary
Jenelle
Chen,
who
were
so
happy
to
welcome
back
from
maternity
leave
and
the
whole
superb
DHCD
team
to
get
critical
resources
into
community
projects
and
also
what
c-deck
I
think
I
saw
Roger
Herzog
here
somewhere.
So
we
want
to
thank
them
too.
B
Amy,
thank
you
so
much
it's
great
to
be
here
today
and
thank
you
for
your
incredible
leadership
on
affordable
housing.
I
have
so
enjoyed
these
last
seven
months
and
secretary.
Getting
to
know
you
and
your
team
here
at
to
life,
and
it's
wonderful
to
be
here.
I
also
want
to
acknowledge
my
partners
in
state
government
that
have
helped
make
this
happen
under
secretary
general
chan
and
kate
racer
from
DHCD.
B
Mass
housing
partnership
in
SeaTac
and
many
others.
If
you
look
at
that,
the
flyer
that
was
on
our
chairs,
it's
sort
of
a
menu
of
how
these
deals
happen,
it's
really
pretty
incredible
to
see
and
also
acknowledge,
Crystal's
leadership
in
helping
us
create
more
workforce.
Housing.
Mass
housing
will
be
administering
the
six
million
dollars
in
funding
the
governor
announced
last
week
to
create
more
workforce
housing
across
the
state.
So
wonderful
to
be
here.
I
this
week
started
a
tour
of
affordable
housing
projects,
developments
all
across
Massachusetts.
We
started
the
tour
in
foster
mr.
B
mayor
as
we
should
there.
We
go
all
right
and
then
yesterday
was
Haverhill
and
Lawrence,
and
today,
Lowell
and
now
here
today
as
well,
and
what
I've
noticed
you
know,
all
these
projects
are
a
little
bit
different,
but
they
all
share
some
important
commonalities,
which
is
the
level
of
creativity
in
collaboration.
You
need
to
make
this
happen
and
just
as
the
tenacity
and
passion
and
focus,
these
are
complicated
projects
and
they
require
a
high
level
of
engagement
and
partnership
by
city
and
state
and
developers
and
community
groups.
B
And
it's
wonderful
to
see
it's
wonderful,
to
see
these
get
conceived
and
get
over
the
finish
line,
and
it
really
is
just
fundamental
to
how
all
of
us
in
Massachusetts
how
we
think
and
how
we
work
and
how
we
act
and
how
we
plan
we
all
work
together
to
make
great
things
happen
and
as
an
administration,
under
the
governor's,
great
leadership
in
housing,
we'll
continue
to
make
housing,
production
and
affordability
a
priority.
However,
everything
we
can
do
and
should
do
really
won't
be
enough
to
solve
our
housing
crisis.
B
What
we
need
to
do,
as
the
governor
mentioned
as
Amy
mentioned,
is
empower
our
cities
and
towns
with
the
tools
they
need
to
develop
more
housing
to
meet
the
needs
of
their
communities,
and
we
really
believe
one
of
the
impediments
to
doing
so
is
local
zoning
and
a
nearly
100
year
old
law.
That
requires
that
any
rezoning
decisions
locally
require
a
two-thirds
vote.
The
governor's
housing
choice
legislation
filed
in
February
would
for
a
series
of
best
practices.
Housing
developments
lower
that
threshold
to
a
simple
majority.
B
B
And
I
do
want
to
thank
chairman
Bonin
for
all
the
time
he
spent
with
me
talking
about
housing.
These
last
few
months,
I've
really
enjoyed
the
dialogue.
Thank
you
and
Amy.
Thank
you
for
your
advocacy
on
housing
choice
as
well,
so
I'll
wrap
it
up
there
thanks
to
all
congratulations
to
all
a
wonderful
development.
Thank
you.