Cruz Electric, a family-run electrical contracting company, has emerged as a principal player in South Boston’s ongoing affordable housing transformation, particularly with its extensive contributions to the redevelopment of the city’s historic Old Colony
community.

 

The New Deal-era Old Colony is one of Boston’s oldest public housing developments and, for years, served and supported South Boston’s working-class families. By the 1990s, poverty and its effects had taken hold of Old Colony and its infrastructure had fallen into disrepair. However, a $200 million redevelopment “master plan” was launched in 2010 to transform the community into a modern, mixed-income neighborhood. The plan included demolishing outdated structures and constructing energy-efficient, LEED- certified buildings.

 

Cruz Electric was on board from the beginning and, 15 years later, is hard at work on the final phases of the redevelopment.

 

"We’ve worked on every building and every section of the Old Colony project since its inception," says Francesco Quinci, Project Manager and Safety Officer at Cruz Electric. “We’re the only subcontractor that has been consistently involved in every phase of redevelopment. Almost every other company has been swapped out – including two general contractors.”

 

It has been a rewarding ride for the 40-year-old firm. Founded by Francesco’s father, company president John Quinci, and two partners, Cruz Electric has become one of the region’s most in-demand electrical contractors, taking on residential, retail, and specialty projects across Greater Boston.

 

In addition to Old Colony, current electrical projects include the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, the residence project at 288 Harrison Avenue, Mission Main apartments in Roxbury, and the life science space at 66 Galon Street in Watertown. With a crew of 83 workers, including 30 actively involved in Old Colony's phase four and five, Cruz Electric is helping transform South Boston into a brighter, safer, more energy-sustainable community,

 

Quinci credits the company’s focus on quality and building relationships with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), Beacon Communities, and other clients with its successful engagement with the Old Colony redevelopment.

 

“We were hardly the only contractors to bid on the project,” he said, “but those relationships gave us the edge. In addition, we’ve always had great relationships with the maintenance departments of Old Colony going back to before the redevelopment. The maintenance crews in the prior buildings would always call us up to fix things. There's value to that. You build relationships that lead to opportunities.”

 

With the help of Cruz Electric, Old Colony has become a model for revitalizing affordable housing in Boston, balancing its historical significance with modern needs. The project has garnered attention for its sustainability efforts, with LEED-certified townhomes and mid-rise buildings. Cruz Electric has played a critical role in implementing these technologies. Old Colony Phase 4 and Old Colony Phase 5 are both 45KW systems 120/208V utilizing Qty: 93 450W Solar Modules per building.

 

For the Quinci family, Old Colony is more than a job. The project has been an opportunity to contribute to the legacy and future of South Boston, specifically its commitment to providing a solid foundation for working families to grow and thrive in the face of dramatic economic challenges, including gentrification that threatens to displace area residents.

 

“Trying to get people who may be less fortunate into good housing is critical,” says Quinci, noting that Old Colony has a history of serving as a stronghold for first- generation immigrants in South Boston. "There's a lot more luxury housing going up in our area. It’s important to create affordable housing so rising property costs don’t push out long-time residents. This redevelopment puts Boston ahead of other cities in addressing this problem.”

 

In many ways, Old Colony and Cruz Electric’s contribution to its success is a prototype for future large-scale public housing efforts in Boston and across the country. The commitment to green technology, sustainable design, and creating safe, affordable homes has been evident throughout each phase of the project. Cruz Electric will undoubtedly continue to expand and deepen its impact, ensuring that Boston will continue to shape the future of its housing landscape.