Hacobian elevates Boston’s housing market

by Tom Vartabedian

Published: Monday November 14, 2011

Mossik Hacobian.

Boston - If Boston's tenuous housing development has spiraled upward the past 42 years, it's only because of an industrious Armenian working behind the scenes.

His name is Mossik Hacobian and his company is Urban Edge, one of the most respected community development corporations in the region --- if not the country.

Over these decades, Hacobian has backboned an enterprise that has developed or preserved about 1,400 affordable homes and apartments, along with related services such as multi-family property management, first-time homebuyer training and credit counseling.

The job doesn't end there. His role has been further enhanced with foreclosure prevention, home rehab and de-leading, asset building, youth programs, safety initiatives, food pantries and advocacy with public and private institutions for equitable investment.

In short, he's made the capital city a better place to live and given low-income tenants a new lease on life, bolstered their self esteem and created a haven for youth who might otherwise have gone astray.

He's been lauded and applauded for his efforts by corporate executives, mayors, legislators and everybody in between. For Hacobian, however, it was just another day in the office. So modest is he about his ego, the two would not recognize one another on a passing street. You won't catch him in a necktie.

"One of our major accomplishments was bridging race and class divisions while helping to mobilize the power of people in Boston's neighborhoods," said Hacobian. "Overcoming divisions is not just an issue within the Armenian community. It is ever present in any social or political context. We've created a common ground for the population and I take pride working for a company that's made Boston one of the most livable and successful cities in America."

Hacobian's association with Mayor Tom Menino dates back to the mid-1980s when the latter was a freshman city councilor. And they've stayed in touch ever since, given the mayor's passion for safe and affordable housing.

"I've supported him every election and will support him again should he decide upon another term," said Hacobian. "He's supported Urban Edge, even during times of opposition from his constituents who were embroiled in a controversy about race and class. Mayor Menino stood up for access and equity, regardless of race, class or ethnicity."

Prior to Menino, Hacobian began his community development career under Mayor Kevin White who was then followed by Ray Flynn. He's served three mayors and eight governors during his prolific career in Boston.

"Boston's come a long way," he notes. "When I first moved here in 1969, East Boston where I still live was nearly all white and about 90 percent Italian. Boston neighborhoods were segregated by race, class and ethnic background. Now, East Boston is more than 50 percent people of color; South Boston is no longer all Irish and Roxbury is no longer all Afro-American. Boston's neighborhoods are very diverse and much more welcoming to people of all races and ethnic backgrounds."

Together with his wife of 39 years, the former Joan Ohanian, they occupy the same home in East Boston - an abandoned home they rehabbed with friends back in the early 1970s.

Modest self-help renovations on that home led to other similar projects which were subsequently rented out at affordable rates.

The Armenian in Hacobian has always burned fervently like a candle at both ends, ever since emigrating here from Tehran in 1958. As an AYFer growing up in New York, he was a member of the Hyortiks and joined the choir at St. Illuminator's Church.

Together with good friend Aram Kostoglian, the two translated short pieces about Armenian history for chapter presentations. They wrote articles for the Hairenik Weekly and took over as co-editors of the AYF Junior Page.

"We worked right up against the deadline before getting the weekly editorials mailed to Editor Jimmy Tashjian on time for publication," Hacobian recalled. "Those early AYF years helped to develop my organizing skills."

Hacobian worked as a counselor at Camp Haiastan for four years during the early 1960s and served as director in 1974. He taught Saturday School at St. Steven's Church and on an Armenian Heritage Project sponsored by the ARS, collaborating with the likes of Seta Kaligian, Robert Mirak and Viken Der Manuelian. His participation these days consists of weekly dinners at ACEC's Café Anoush, attending church on happy and sad occasions, and patronizing Armenian stores.

A graduate of Columbia University, where he attended on full scholarship, Hacobian celebrated his Armenian heritage at a time when assimilation was more the norm. He played intercollegiate soccer and the violin as well. His dad died of a heart attack at age 47, four years after arriving here. Both he and his sister Berjouhi were raised by a single mom.

"I was fortunate to be at Columbia Architecture School in 1968 during a big demonstration protesting the Vietnam War," he recalled. "The school became one of the buildings occupied by protestors for one week."

Fortunate?

Out of this came an urban design studio in East Harlem after the university was shut down for a month. Hacobian began working with on various design projects to benefit the community. He soon learned that being different and speaking two other languages (Armenian and Persian), playing soccer and having come from another part of the world could be a positive thing

"The Columbia demonstrations and nine months I spent in East Harlem were the real beginning of my community development career," he said, looking back.