YW Boston Sells Historic Back Bay Building for 210-Unit Homeless Housing Project

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — YW Boston sells 140 Clarendon Street to Beacon Communities for a 210-unit supportive housing project serving formerly homeless residents. At a July 22 ceremony attended by Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Michelle Wu on her 23rd day in office, YW Boston CEO Beth Chandler and Beacon CEO Dara Cobell described the 16-month process from concept to closing on the nearly century-old Back Bay building. Bank of America provided close to $80 million in construction financing and purchased federal, state, and historic tax credits for a combined total of over $150 million in capital; Blue Hub Capital structured the state low-income housing tax credit. Pine Street Inn will operate resident services for the 210 households, with project-based vouchers from the Boston Housing Authority providing the deep affordability. Existing tenants — Lyric Stage Theater, the Snowden School, and YW Boston's own offices — will remain in approximately 30,000 square feet of commercial space. Beacon founder Howard Cohen said residents are expected to move in within approximately 20 months.