After nearly a decade of planning, regulatory navigation, and phased construction work, the long-awaited Booby Alley Housing project has finally reached its last stage of development, marking a major milestone for a community that has waited years for expanded, affordable living options.
First conceived back in 2016 as a response to growing local housing shortages and deteriorating existing infrastructure in the Booby Alley neighborhood, the initiative was designed to deliver 120 mixed-income residential units, alongside 8,000 square feet of community amenity space that includes a new neighborhood park, a small business incubator, and a childcare center. Over the past eight years, the project navigated a series of hurdles, from zoning approval delays to supply chain disruptions sparked by the 2020 global pandemic, which pushed back original completion timelines by more than two years.
Local housing officials confirmed this week that all major structural work is now complete, and the final phase—covering interior finishing, utility connections, and landscaping—is underway. Current projections have the entire project wrapping up by the fourth quarter of this year, with the first new residents moving in by early 2025.
“We’ve stayed committed to delivering this project to a community that has needed it for decades,” said Maria Gonzalez, director of the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development. “This isn’t just about building new homes—it’s about investing in the future of this neighborhood, creating space for long-time residents and new families to thrive.”
Affordable housing advocates have also praised the project’s progress, noting that 40 percent of the new units are reserved for low and middle-income households earning below 80 percent of the area median income, a requirement that community organizers fought to include in the project’s initial terms. Once completed, the development is expected to cut the local affordable housing waiting list by nearly 15 percent, according to city data.