Uncategorized

ROXBURY, MA – Thursday, May 18, 2017 – Cruz Management today announced major transformations at the Warren Gardens Co-Op in Roxbury, including a completed $950,000 roof replacement and $600,000 in masonry repairs to enhance the property for residents. Cruz has also begun to repair the exterior siding, after which, the entire development will be repainted.

“Cruz has worked for the past three years with the Warren Gardens Co-Op community to advance this transformation,” said Cruz Management Director Justin Cruz. “We are pleased to oversee these critical projects to enhance the quality of life and safety for residents and shareholders.”

Cruz has managed the 228-unit Warren Gardens Coop for the past three years, working alongside the Warren Gardens Board of Directors and the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enhance the formerly troubled and controversial property.

The Cruz Management team has won a reputation for professionalism and partnership with residents, housing agencies and community groups for its work in the inner-city communities

In recognition of his efforts managing projects like Warren Gardens, Justin Cruz was named “The Management Marvel” by Boston Magazine, in its annual Power Issue, profiling the next generation of leaders in Boston’s business community.

Cruz Management recently launched a partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) to implement a smoke-free policy that will increase health and safety for all residents.

A full-service real estate property management firm, Cruz Management provides quality services to property owners in the Greater Boston area that include the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), HUD, non-profits and private owners. Cruz Management services more than 1,600 units in Boston and New Bedford, Massachusetts, with plans to expand into additional markets. Learn more at www.CruzCompanies.com.

 

CAMBRIDGE – Wednesday, May 3, 2017 – Cruz Companies President and CEO John B. Cruz, III received the Alvaro Lima Outstanding Business Award from the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) during its recent, annual awards gala in Cambridge.

“We thank Mr. Cruz for never forgetting his family’s immigrant beginnings, and continuing to offer employment opportunities to the community,” said MAPS Executive Director Paulo Pinto. “With its deep Cabo Verdean roots, we are proud that Cruz Companies is one of the country’s top minority-owned construction real estate development businesses.”

Cruz Companies is the oldest and largest minority-owned construction and real estate development firm in the region, responsible for landmark projects and developments.

“Like MAPS, Cruz Companies works to embrace and maintain our immigrant heritage and diversity of the Portuguese-speaking community,” said Cruz. “My thanks go out to Paulo Pinto, and the entire MAPS leadership and Board for this recognition.”

The company was founded by John’s late-father, “Bertie” Cruz in 1948 as a small, Cape Verdean business. Throughout its history, Cruz has embraced diversity by providing well-paying jobs in the construction industry, building affordable housing in inner city minority communities, and by contracting with other minority businesses such as subcontractors, architects, engineers, attorneys, consultants, suppliers, etc.

For more information, visit www.CruzCompanies.com

Cruz Companies President John B. Cruz, III received the Black Family Legacy Award from At-Large City Councilor Ayanna Pressley during the City Council’s recent Black History Month celebration.

“Although many are unaware, there are black families who’ve lived in Boston and have been making civic contributions for generations,” said Councilor Pressley. “I am excited to honor John Cruz of Cruz Companies, as they represent our past, present and future.”

Cruz was among the prominent local black families honored at the event, which was held late February at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Roxbury and sponsored by Councilors Pressley, Tito Jackson and Andrea Campbell.

 

 

 

Cruz Companies President John B. Cruz, III recently joined a group of more than 75 minority contractors and ABC members in Mattapan to discuss ways to increase opportunities for people of color in the construction field.

“The construction field is lacking a solid pipeline of minority talent, but Cruz Companies is working with industry leaders to come together with solutions,” said Cruz. “Together, we are committed to creating opportunities for people in our inner-city communities through contracting opportunities, training and apprenticeship programs.”

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh recently announced plans to raise the city’s hiring goals to 40 percent people of color. However, a lack of experienced and trained workers remains a barrier.

Cruz Construction, in partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts (ABC) MAPS program and YouthBuild Boston, runs a carpentry apprentice and labor apprentice program with six students currently enrolled; comprising four men and two women.

The program gives young people the opportunity to work alongside their peers while developing skills in the high demand construction field.The four-year apprenticeship program provides apprentices with 4,000 total hours of training in the field and 4,000 in the classroom.

The Mattapan event was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit and hosted by ABC Chair Joe Barbone who thanked the Cruz organization for its work to increase access and opportunity for diverse workers in the industry. This January, Mr. Cruz was inducted into the ABC Board of Directors.

Cruz Companies President John B. Cruz, III was inducted to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts (ABC) Board of Directors on January 25, 2017 during the organization’s installation of officers event in Davensport.

“I thank ABC for this honor and look forward to working with the association to support Merit Shop principles that allow access and opportunity for all,” said Cruz.

At the event, ABC Chair Joe Barbone welcomed the incoming members to the ABC Board and thanked the entire Cruz Companies organization for its work to support the association and its principles.

ABC is a national trade association representing 22,000 members from more than 19,000 construction and industry-related firms.

ROXBURY – Wednesday, December 21, 2016 – Cruz Management hosted its Second Annual Youth Holiday Celebration this week at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club of Roxbury.

Every child between the ages of 0 and 16 received a gift from Cruz Cares (Community, Arts, Recreational and Educational Services), which is Cruz Companies social responsibility arm, a non-profit organization that helps Boston’s urban community.

The event, held December 20, was open to all children that live in a Cruz Management property.

BOSTON – Thursday, December 15, 2016 – Members of the Roxbury community joined together to celebrate Cruz Companies’ 31st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Cox Building Wednesday evening.
“We are delighted to bring members of the community together to celebrate the holidays as part of this great annual tradition,” said Cruz Development Corporation Senior Vice President Daniel Cruz, Jr. “Our motto is ‘Cruz Cares’ and our mission is giving back to the community in many ways as possible.”

During the event, residents sang carols and shared in the Christmas spirit, as children flipped the switch on the tree. ­­­

“Cruz Companies’ Christmas party is one of the most special traditions we have in Roxbury,” said City Councilor Tito Jackson. “It is critical that we allow the inner city to be a place where people can have fun and families can convene. To have all of these diverse voices together signing Christmas carols is a great reflection of the City of Boston.”

“As a Roxbury native, I know how important it is to support area businesses like Cruz Companies,” said Rep-Elect Chynah Tyler, who has been attending Cruz tree lighting ceremonies for years. “That’s how we grow collectively as one community.”

About Cruz Companies: Cruz Companies is one of the largest and oldest minority-owned construction companies in the nation responsible for landmark projects and developments. Cruz Companies’ mission is giving back to the community through increasing affordable housing opportunities, providing good jobs to area residents and hiring other minority businesses.

Town Manager David C. Murphy said the Town Council will have to approve a formal purchase-and-sale agreement and will probably consider zoning relief for the project. He said approvals for the project will probably “take months.”

Murphy said the town is “most fortunate to have two reputable development companies looking to invest more than $20 million each in the town.”

“It is my hope that we can work with Cruz Development at the Devine site but also find a way for the Sandler proposal to work at another site in town,” said Murphy. “They were both great proposals, and it is my hope to make them both work in the town of Randolph.”

Thursday, September 15, 2016 – Cruz Companies today celebrated four apprentices completing the mid-point of their construction apprenticeship program, a partnership between Cruz Companies and YouthBuild Boston, designed to fill the minority skills gap in Boston’s construction fields.

“Our apprenticeship program gives young people the opportunity to work alongside their peers while developing skills in the high demand construction field,” said John B. Cruz, III, CEO of Cruz Companies. “In order to grow as a company, we need to have trained apprentices, and these youth represent our future.”

The apprentices just finished their second year of their four-year apprenticeship program at Cruz Construction, which is sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts. Apprentices must complete 4,000 total hours of training in the field and 4,000 in the classroom prior to completion of the program.

At Cruz, apprentices are currently working full-time on basic carpentry skills including: cutting, framing, and installation of barricades, windows, rafters and finishes. After work on Mondays and Thursdays, Cruz organizes transportation for the apprentices to travel to the Gould Construction Institute in Franklin to complete their classroom instruction.

“Working with a minority business like Cruz Companies has been amazing,” said apprentice Jonell Wynter, 26 of Dorchester. “I want to use this experience to learn from Cruz, and one day start my own contracting company.”

The apprentices have been working on Cruz affordable housing projects across the city, including: The Residences at Harvard Commons, Wayne at Columbia Apartments, and Walnut Apartments. At the end of the program, the apprentices will become full carpenters, with an opportunity to continue their work with Cruz Companies.

“My experience with YouthBuild taught me how to grow to become a better person,” said Dorothy Fleming, an inaugural YouthBuild Boston graduate, who now works at Cruz Construction as an Equal Employment Opportunity officer and apprenticeship program coordinator.

“Without YouthBuild, I would have never gotten a career with Cruz,” said Fleming. “It’s been great to help other youth coming through this program to learn this important field, which has been suffering from employment shortages.”

Image courtesy Curz, from left: apprentices Jonell Wynter of Dorchester and Gerard Duclair of Roslindale, Cruz Companies CEO John B. Cruz, III, and apprentices Darius Cruz Corchado of Roxbury and Shayna Hancock of Dorchester

MARTHA’S VINEYARD – August 23, 2016 – Cruz Companies recently sponsored its Annual Summer Bike Ride and Swim on Martha’s Vineyard, bringing more than 60 youth, chaperones, and staff to the island for a day of cycling, swimming and sightseeing.

“This is a great opportunity for Boston’s diverse youth to experience the magic of the Vineyard for the first time,” said Justin Cruz, director of Cruz Management. “Cruz Companies is proud to extend this amazing experience to many of our tenants and their children as part of our mission to give back to the community.”

Youth participants ranged up to 17 years in age and travelled from Cruz-managed properties in the Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester and South End neighborhoods of Boston. Participants included students from Boston High Academy, Community Charter School of Cambridge, the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science, Foxborough Regional Charter School and TechBoston Academy.

The group biked from the ferry stop to Edgartown and back, and enjoyed other activities along the way, including swimming, shopping, dining, sightseeing and a bridge jump. The annual trip is sponsored by Cruz Management and has been ongoing for approximately 20 years.

About Cruz Management:

Cruz Management is a full service real estate property management firm, which provides quality services to property owners in the Greater Boston area. The Cruz Management team has won a reputation for professionalism and partnership with residents, housing agencies and community groups. Cruz Management services more than 1,600 units in the cities of Boston and New Bedford, Massachusetts, as well as sites in Miami, Florida. These residential units are financed through a variety of affordable housing programs.