Chelsea has 66 more affordable apartments at 170 Cottage Street, where construction is complete and families have begun moving into a building beside the Chelsea Greenway. The project includes homes with two and three bedrooms, plus easy access to the Silver Line.

The Neighborhood Developers (TND) says construction finished in June 2026. The nonprofit celebrated the opening with residents and partners this month, according to an October 23 local report. The building is complete, but that does not mean applications or vacant apartments are available now.

According to TND's project description, the building is one block from the Eastern Avenue Silver Line stop and next to a walking and bicycling route along the Greenway.

What is inside the building?

The mix matters in Chelsea, where families searching for affordable apartments may need more than one bedroom. Larger units offer options that small studio-only developments cannot.

The developer lists an approximately 1,800-square-foot community room, laundry rooms on residential floors, underground parking for 72 cars, storage for 70 bicycles, and more than 15,000 square feet of outdoor space.

Two homes are designated for individuals with disabilities. TND says 16 homes have a preference for families that have experienced homelessness or are at risk. Those set-asides are part of the development's existing housing program, not a guarantee that openings remain.

The building's design emphasizes energy efficiency. TND says the project received Passive House Design Certification in 2023, before construction started. That is a design milestone, not a claim about measured energy bills after residents moved in.

Who is the housing intended for?

TND lists all 66 apartments as affordable, with income tiers based on area median income, often shortened to AMI. The breakdown is 18 apartments for households below 30% of AMI, 12 below 50%, and 36 below 60%.

AMI is a regional benchmark used to set program income limits, not a statement of what the typical Chelsea household earns. Limits vary with household size and year.

An October 23 report on the opening also explains the project's financing, including a $24.5 million tax-exempt bond issued through MassDevelopment. Older income-limit dollar figures in financing announcements are not a reliable guide to eligibility today; they change by year and household size.

Construction began in December 2023. TND identifies a range of public, nonprofit and private financing partners, reflecting the complicated funding needed to create housing at below-market rents.

How can someone ask about renting?

TND's Rent With TND information page says WinnResidential handles rental applications and property management. Residents can call 617-884-0692 to ask about applications and waiting lists.

The organization explains that new buildings typically hold an advertised application period and housing lottery before occupancy. Applicants are screened according to the applicable program rules. People interested in 170 Cottage should ask about that property's current status, rather than assuming a new lottery is open.

There is another distinction worth keeping clear. Chelsea's recent council action concerning a possible 70% local preference involves a proposed system for inclusionary-zoning apartments. It should not be presented as a rule already governing the tax-credit apartments at 170 Cottage.

The new building is a completed addition to Chelsea's affordable housing supply. For people hoping to live there, the practical next move is to ask WinnResidential about the property's current waiting list, income limits and any available apartments.