Construction began on a five-story residential project in Lexington. The all-electric building will create 312 units of housing.

BXP purchased the property for over $21,000,000 earlier this year and obtained a construction loan from Northwestern Mutual to keep the project moving forward.

Developers plan to add a parking garage with vehicle and bicycle parking and a separate retail building on the site. Amenities will include a swimming pool, courtyards, dog park and children’s play area.

The project was permitted under the Massachusetts MBTA Communities Act, which mandated that municipalities served by commuter rail stations must have at least one “reasonably sized district where multifamily housing can be built.” In June, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge affirmed the law, denying exemption to several Massachusetts towns that claimed the law’s requirement to adopt multifamily zoning districts would create additional costs.

The development also marks the start of a long-term revitalization effort for the Hartwell Avenue corridor.

“We are proud to work with Northwestern Mutual to bring housing to Lexington in a way that aligns with the community’s long-term goals,” said Bryan Koop, EVP, Boston Region at BXP. “As the first major residential project approved under the MBTA Communities Act in Lexington, 17 Hartwell Avenue represents an important step forward in expanding housing access, sustainability and livability in the region. With a mix of units, indoor-outdoor amenities, and access to transit and downtown Lexington, 17 Hartwell Avenue will add a desirable living experience to the growing Hartwell Avenue corridor.”