September 2025: Construction Update
Construction is moving forward at the Blessed Sacrament site, where work began earlier this summer to transform the former church into 55 units of affordable housing. Current efforts have included the careful removal of hazardous materials, interior demolition of plaster walls and floors, and site preparation such as grading and surveying. These activities have been managed to keep noise levels minimal for neighbors.
In the coming weeks, work will shift to bracing the church’s exterior in preparation for floor removal, followed by selective demolition on the south and north sides of the building. This includes removing windows, doors, granite steps, and part of the north-side structure to make way for the new foundation. Neighbors should be aware that demolition on the north
side will involve saw cutting and is expected to be the noisiest phase, lasting about four weeks.

Construction hours will continue to run Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Updates will be posted here as construction progresses: https://www.pennrose.com/apartments/massachusetts/blessed-sacrament/

August 2025: HSTF Completes Sale of Blessed Sacrament Church

Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) is pleased to announce that the organization has completed the sale of the former Blessed Sacrament Church building to Pennrose, LLC, a mission-driven developer, marking the next chapter for this community landmark. Construction is slated to begin in late summer 2025 and continue through late 2027. HSTF purchased the former Blessed Sacrament Church property in 2014 with the goal of preserving the building as a performing arts and cultural center. After several years of pursuing different avenues to achieve this goal, HSTF’s board of directors decided that a development partner was needed, given the project’s scope and expense. Pennrose will now oversee the transformation of the building into 55 units of affordable housing (studios, one-beds, and two-beds) and a community performance space that will be managed by HSTF. The proceeds from the sale will help to fund a portion of the community space build-out, but HSTF will be seeking to raise additional capital. 

Redevelopment is necessary to save the Boston Landmarks-designated structure, as the building has been vacant and largely unused for two decades. Major improvements during this project will reenergize a section of Centre Street that has been dormant for many years, and will improve safety and foster greater community engagement. The Blessed Sacrament building’s central location in Boston’s Latin Quarter creates an ideal location for arts events, community collaboration, cultural activities, and community and visitor engagement. 

HSTF’s 200-person multipurpose performance space will be an accessible, active community hub featuring events and performances centered around Afro-Latin arts and culture. This space will expand HSTF’s performance and events series and draw more community members and visitors to Boston’s Latin Quarter in celebration of art. The venue will be made accessible to other neighborhood groups, events, community members, and Afro-Latin artists, creating a positive economic impact on the vitality of the neighborhood. The revitalized building will anchor the Latin Quarter for generations to come. This is more than a real estate transaction – it’s a reflection of our collective vision and persistence. We are proud to be taking this next step with all of you, and we look forward to continuing our work to build a more vibrant, inclusive, and connected community.

February 2023: Boston Invests $67 Million in Affordable Housing

October 2022: Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Reviews Pennrose Proposal

March 2022: Blessed Sacrament Design Work Begins

October 2021: Pennrose Selected as Blessed Sacrament Redeveloper

September 2021: Community Informed About Proposals

August 2021: Redevelopment Proposal Finalists Selected