The former Constitution Inn in Charlestown could soon become affordable rental housing. 

The Archdiocese of Boston and St. Francis House filed a letter of intent with the Boston Planning & Development Agency Wednesday expressing their desire to convert the property located at 150 Third Ave. in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The site is owned by the BPDA and leased by the YMCA of Greater Boston, which uses the building as a fitness center. 

According to the filing, the project is expected to provide long-term mixed-income affordable housing, that includes permanent supportive housing, an approach the proponents say has been used successfully in Boston and other cities for decades. 

The proponents are looking to acquire the YMCA’s lease with approval from the BPDA to redevelop 90,647 square feet of the building into 100 units of affordable rental housing. Once complete, it will have 52 income-eligible rental apartments for households earning between $30,000 and $83,00 per year. Additionally, 48 units will be set aside as supportive housing for households headed by women or veterans, along with onsite professional services for those families. 

The remaining 20,747 square feet of the building will be leased back to the YMCA to continue its facility operations and its aquatics program, with BPDA approval. 

This isn’t the first time this property has come before the BPDA. 

In October 2022, the Archdiocese and St. Francis House filed a request to waive large project review requirements for the property’s redevelopment. That same month they withdrew their request saying they did not submit the request to avoid a community engagement process, but during the community engagement process, they determined their request was viewed by community members as an effort to circumvent community outreach. 

“To demonstrate our commitment to move the project forward in an engaged manner, we are withdrawing our waiver request,” they said in the withdrawal request.