SERVICES

Multi-Family Development

At Szecon, our multi-family practice bridges municipal goals with modern residential living. We specialize in mixed-income, transit-oriented developments that prioritize structural integrity, energy performance, and architectural harmony. From navigating complex zoning approvals and Mass Chapter 40B regulations to building to Passive House efficiency standards, we execute multi-unit projects built for long-term durability and local neighborhood enhancement.

Located at 164 Essex Street in Melrose, MA, our landmark mixed-income development serves as a premier example of Szecon's capability to execute complex permitting, transit alignment, and ultra-high-efficiency building science.

Flagship Project Spotlight: Cedar Park One64

BY THE NUMBERS

80

Units

Mixed Income Housing

20%

Affordable

Chapter 40-B Permitted

Passive House

Certification

Energy Efficiency Standard

0.1 mile

from Cedar Park Station

MBTA and transit proximity

93

Walk Score

“Walker’s Paradise” According to walkscore.org

Opportunity Site

Melrose Housing Production Plan

Local collaboration & Community Benefit

The Szecon Difference

A Blue-Print for Collaboration

Navigating multi-family development requires technical expertise and a collaborative mindset. We already had the know how, but for Cedar Park One64, we put our collaborative mindset to the test. Working with the City of Melrose, MassHousing, and the MBTA, we are transforming an underutilized parking lot into a vibrant smart-growth community. —- The site had been identified by the City in it’s Housing Production Plan as a New Opportunity Site and helps to move the city closer to it’s goals of reaching Safe Harbor from Chapter 40B developments and provides much needed affordable housing allowing individuals and families to live and thrive in Melrose. —- Chapter 40B is a powerful tool that can be used cooperatively by municipalities, developers, and subsidizing agencies, like MassHousing, to bring the right kind of development to the right place at the right time. Cedar Park One64 is a quintessential example of what can happen when all those elements come together. —- By negotiating reciprocal easements with the MBTA, we maximized site utility by adding additional parking to the project, hidden away behind the building and not visible from the street while adding infrastructure value back to the transit authority by providing an access path directly from the Cedar Park Station platform to the sidewalk on Essex Street. —- We don't build in a community; we build with it.

EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP ARTICLES

Built to Own, Not to Flip

Szecon Development is a family business, and our portfolio is a long-term investment in our communities. Because we retain, manage, and maintain multi-family developments post-construction, we refuse to cut corners. From spacious multi-bedroom layouts designed for growing families to long-lasting architectural materials, our choices are driven by structural longevity and community harmony—not a quick exit strategy.

01

PASSIVE HOUSE CERTIFICATION

Pioneering high-performance construction as one of Melrose's first Passive House certified multi-family developments. Ultra-airtight building envelopes and advanced thermal modeling deliver exceptional indoor air quality, superior acoustic dampening, and drastically reduced long-term operating costs.

02

FLANGED WINDOW ASSEMBLIES

Engineered for uncompromising building-envelope performance. Integrating mechanically fastened flanged window assemblies into the exterior wall system creates a continuous, redundant weather barrier that permanently eliminates water intrusion and envelope degradation.

03

INDIVIDUAL ERV SYSTEMS

Dedicated Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) installed in every residence provide continuous, filtered fresh air exchange. Decentralizing ventilation guarantees precise climate control, peak energy retention, and complete isolation between units to prevent cross-contamination of air or odors.

Active Builder-Owner Competence

Most real estate sponsors manage developments from a distant boardroom. At Szecon, we bring over 30 years of hands-on framing, engineering, and contracting experience directly to the job site every single day. While we partner with top-tier commercial General Contractors, we don't sit back and wait for weekly reports. We are on-site daily, actively collaborating to see potential field conflicts before they cause delays, and leveraging deep, hyper-local sub-contractor, vendor, and consultant networks to smooth out logistical bumps in real-time.

This deep technical fluency allowed us to spearhead a highly successful Value Engineering (VE) process alongside our GC and architects for Cedar Park One64. Because we understand the exact mechanics of a building, we knew precisely where to optimize upfront construction costs without sacrificing structural integrity or inflating long-term maintenance overhead.

From utilizing advanced pre-construction tech—like 1mm-precision robotic steel fabrication—to implementing layouts optimized for real-world property management, our decisions are guided by a multi-generational legacy of apartment ownership and operations. We build smart up front, so our assets perform seamlessly for decades to come.