The Dolben Company, Inc. is pleased to announce the initiation of its latest project, The Apartments at Powder Mill (working name), a 230-unit luxury residential apartment community situated on a 10.5-acre site along the picturesque Assabet River in South Acton, adjacent to Concord and Maynard. Construction commenced in July 2024 and is expected to span 24 months. The first units are anticipated to be available by the end of 2025, with project stabilization projected for the third quarter of 2026.

Drew Dolben, Chairman of The Dolben Company, notes, “We are extremely proud to bring this team together and to work collaboratively with the Town of Acton to bring the project to life. The conditions for creating new multifamily housing have been challenging and we are glad to get this project off the ground.”
The team assembled to bring this development to life includes The Dolben Company as the sponsor/developer, Plumb House as the general contractor, Gate 17 Architecture as the architect, Bohler as the civil engineer, and Miller Engineering & Testing as the geotechnical engineer. Financing was provided by Camden Trust.
The approved development plans include two residential buildings, each designed as five-story slab-on-grade structures. Complementing these residential buildings will be a standalone six-story precast concrete parking garage. The buildings will collectively encompass approximately 315,110 gross square feet, featuring a diverse array of spacious floorplans, including studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The apartments will be equipped with electronic unit entries, vinyl plank flooring, brushed nickel fixtures, LED lighting, stainless steel appliances, full-sized washers and dryers, walk-in closets, quartz countertops, and custom cabinetry. Community amenities will include a fitness center, swimming pool, BBQ grilling areas, roof deck, resident lounge, dog park and spa, package acceptance, bike storage, controlled access parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and a kayak/canoe launch.
Development agreements with the Town of Acton include an on-site stop along the CrossTown Connect shuttle, ensuring convenient transportation throughout the area and to the MBTA South Acton Commuter Rail Station.
Adhering to a Local Initiative Program (LIP) Comprehensive Permit, this development ensures that 58 of the 230 apartments (25%) are designated as affordable in perpetuity. Eligible residents for these units must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Maximum rents are based on 80% of AMI in the area, adjusted for household size and resident-paid utilities, within the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy MA-NH HMFA, a standard calculation. (HMFA is the Housing and Urban Development Metro Fair Market Rate Area.)

Chair of Acton’s affordable housing advocacy group Housing for All Bob Van Meter said by email, “We are glad to see 58 new affordable rental units being developed in Acton.” Van Meter is also a member of the Acton Community Housing Corporation (ACHC). Chair of that committee, Janet Adachi, also responded to emailed questions. She said, “ACHC has been supportive of the project throughout, starting with the original developer several years ago. More recently, the Town staff have been more involved.” According to the Town website, “ACHC acts as the Town’s initial contact and preliminary negotiating agency with developers of proposed affordable residential housing projects (40B’s).”
For more information on The Dolben Company, visit www.dolben.com.