In Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, a builder is doing something rare.
Developer Dariela Villón-Maga of DVM Housing Partners is turning vacant, city-owned land into Blume on the Ave—30 new condos built for first-time buyers and longtime residents. The project isn’t just about units; it’s about keeping neighbors rooted in the community they helped create.
“We want these new homes and businesses to reflect the culture and future of Mattapan,” Villón-Maga says.
The plan delivers on that promise: ground-floor spaces will house a beauty salon, a wellness studio, and an arts organization—all Black- and women-owned, all chosen through a community process.
In a city where rising prices have pushed families out for decades, this development stands for something larger: ownership as opportunity, and construction as a form of preservation. It shows how builders can create wealth that stays local—helping residents gain equity instead of watching it leave the neighborhood.
But how exactly did a local builder secure public land, rally community support, and create a blueprint for shared prosperity in one of the nation’s toughest housing markets?
Discover the full story of Blume on the Ave and the builder reshaping what “affordable” can mean in Boston.
