Renderings: Centre South will break ground in early 2026
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Courtesy of The Fallon Company
A long-delayed plan to transform an open field on the edge of South End into a massive development with affordable housing is finally moving forward.
Why it matters: After years of setbacks, construction on Centre South's first 329 apartments, including 66 affordable units, is set to begin in early 2026. Move-ins are expected in 2028.
- The Fallon Company, a Boston developer, is partnering with Inlivian, Charlotte's housing authority, to reserve 20% of units for residents making 65-80% of the area median income. That's an annual salary of about $50,000 to $62,850 for a one-person household.
Flashback: The site, off South Boulevard and along South Caldwell, used to be home to the Strawn Cottages, a low-income housing community that was torn down. In 2016, Inlivian selected The Fallon Company as the master developer for a new private-public project. Ground was supposed to break in 2017.
- However, the land has remained vacant, generating no revenue for Inlivian in the meantime.
- Infrastructure work led to delays on the project. The pandemic also disrupted the market and prolonged many pre-planned developments. As of earlier this year, the developer was still securing county building permits and working on financing.
The big picture: The apartments will be just the first of multiple buildings planned at the 16.7 acres, just down the street from the Dowd YMCA, where South End, Dilworth and Uptown intersect.
- Plans have long called for nearly a thousand residences, plus office, retail and potentially a hotel. The latest designs include new streets, sidewalks and bike lanes, and a 1.5-acre park.
- "Twelve03 will establish a new benchmark for urban living," says Michael Fallon, CEO of The Fallon Company.
- The timeline for the full build-out is unclear.
Zoom in: The first phase, called Twelve03, is a six-story, mid-rise building with 329 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, according to the developer.
- Amenities include a rooftop pool, a reservable resident sky lounge with views of Uptown, a co-working lounge, fitness center, pet spa, garden courtyard and enclosed bike storage.
- A second apartment building will bring the total number of affordable units to 145.
Zoom out: In the Costwold neighborhood, The Fallon Company is building a 234-unit market-rate apartment community called The Colwick, near the Publix. It's expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.
