When a new owner imposed sharp rent hikes in 2018, tenants organized and fought back. Now, more than 300 housing units will be affordable for the foreseeable future. Here’s how the tenants made it happen.
In a powerful tenant-led victory, residents of the Fairlawn Estates complex in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood have secured permanent affordability for over 300 rental units after six years of organizing against steep rent increases and displacement.
When The DSF Group bought the property in 2018 and raised rents by hundreds of dollars, tenants — many older adults and people of color — refused to back down. With the support of City Life/Vida Urbana, they formed a tenant association, held rallies, and resisted evictions.
The turning point came in 2025 when the property went up for sale. The City of Boston, through its Acquisition Opportunity Program (AOP), stepped in to help a nonprofit developer, Related Affordable, purchase the complex. Thanks to funding from the city’s Neighborhood Housing Trust and ARPA dollars, Fairlawn Estates is now income-restricted "forever."
Read the full story: After a Six-Year Struggle, Tenants in Boston’s Mattapan Neighborhood Win Permanent Affordability
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