Items Tagged ‘apartments’
Landmark Detroit Shoreway Building Gets Second Chance Thanks to Keen Developer
Synopsis:
The Gordon Square Arts District in Cleveland is coming back to life. One project currently under construction in the neighborhood is the adaptive reuse of the former Cheerios Building. The project marks the end of seven years of vacancy and the conversion of a former (illicit) nightclub into four market-rate second floor apartments and five additional first floor storefronts. The neighborhood is no stranger to reinvestment – the refurbished Capitol Theatre serves as an indie movie house and the fringy Cleveland Public Theatre is home to avant-garde plays. The new Detroit Avenue streetscape was completed over a year ago and provides public art, broad sidewalks and street-side landscaping. The conversion of the building will incorporate energy-efficient and sustainable features. High efficiency insulation is used in each apartment, brick from a dismantled patio is being reused, and the landscaping will use drought-resistant plantings. Some units will also have hardwood flooring salvaged from an old gym.
Spring Target For Building At Silk Mill
Synopsis:
After two years of planning since the city’s approval for the project, construction is slated to begin this spring to convert the old A.H. Rice Mill in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Rees-Larkin Development of Boston has already received some funding through state and federal historic tax credits, but the biggest hurdle has been to get the award of $8.1 million in affordable housing tax credits from the commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Making up a large portion of the projected $13 redevelopment costs, this funding has been integral to start the process. The developer is certain that they will receive the funding which will be announcing later this year.
The old silk mill, vacant for five years, will be adapted into 45 units of affordable housing as the new Rice Silk Mill Apartments. The project will help to provide much-needed affordable housing within the community as well as encourage further revitalization of the Morningside neighborhood where it is located. A majority of the mill will be utilized in the redevelopment, though a small, non-historic structures will be taken down to allow for the creation of a courtyard and green space.
Bringing A Taste Of New York To Johannesburg
Synopsis:
With the departure of many corporate offices from downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, to the outer neighborhoods, many office buildings are becoming ghost towns. Johannesburg has since been reinventing itself, and Adam Levy is part of that transformation. In 2003 Levy purchased a 10-story office building in the historic district of Braamfontein. Anchored by the University of the Witwatersrand and ringed by major railway lines and several major banks, and “edgy” neighborhood is fast becoming the South African version of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg or London’s East End. Levy adapted the office building into six apartments as well as a two-story penthouse for himself. Since then, he has created galleries, offices and tackled a theatre renovation. His inspiration for the office building was SoHo which taught him that Johannesburg too could become a fun, active place to live in.
Pomeroy’s Plan Includes Apartments
Synopsis:
The former Pomeroy’s Department store in Easton, Pennsylvania, will soon see a new purpose thanks to the building’s new owner, Mark Mulligan. Similar redevelopment plans for the shuttered store have come along during its vacant years going back to 1976. Those plans all failed to take off, but Mulligan’s is nearing construction and awaiting one final commission approval in April. The plans currently call for demolishing the middle of the structure to allow for a new courtyard. The 20 apartments that will be housed in the building will all look out over the new courtyard. In addition to the housing, ground level retail will be created at the front of the building to provide new services to the surrounding community. Thanks to its location, the developer hopes to rent the apartments to Lafayette College students nearby, thus bringing more students into downtown and helping to spur further revitalization efforts. A second phase of the project, still in planning, is to convert the rear seven-story tower into commercial and office space.
Rock Bay Plan Passes Muster
Publication Date:
February 5, 2010Written By:
Bill CleverleySource:
The Victoria Times ColonistRead more...
Synopsis:
A proposal to convert a former warehouse in the Rock Bay district of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is moving forward after planning and land-use committee recommended the proposal go to public hearing. The plan calls for a rezoning to turn the former warehouse last used as a kayak retail and rental outlet into a ground-floor commercial building with 25 one-bedroom and studio apartments on the top two floors. The apartments would be owned and managed by the Greater Victoria Housing Society and rented to low-income singles most likely working in low-wage or entry-level jobs. “The rezoning covers both 555 Pembroke, recently renovated for office use, and 575 Pembroke for the commercial/apartment development. Allowable ground-floor uses would include offices, bakeries, financial institutions, retail sales, call centres, drycleaners, restaurants, high tech and artisan trades. The same zoning would apply to 555 Pembroke but residential use will not be allowed.” The building at 555 Pembroke was built in 1914 as a B.C. Electrical Trolley office and repair shop while 575 Pembroke, built in 1939, has been used as a machine shop, warehouse, light manufacturing and retail space.
Green Building And Adaptive Reuse Under One Roof
Synopsis:
City & Guilds founder David Gammino is undertaking a new development project that will utilize historic tax credits and green building techniques. The building at 408 N. 3rd Street in Richmond, Virginia, was originally built in 1912 as a stable for horses and storage for funeral carriages. Gammino intends to repurpose it into an 18,000-square-foot apartment building with indoor parking. He intends to pursue LEED certification but is finding that meeting both the requirements for LEED and historic tax credit is difficult. “For instance, to be LEED certified the building most meet certain efficiency standards, however historical rules dictate that original brick walls can’t be covered with insulation. The original steel ceiling beams also must remain exposed and the area can’t be used for insulation. Gammino’s solution is to put seven inches of insulation board on the ceiling, when normally only a couple of inches are used. Also the building will have a green roof, which is covered in vegetation that helps insulate the building as well as reduce storm water runoff.” Gammino plans to have the apartments ready to lease this spring.
Garden Street Lofts
Synopsis:
History
Located at 1425 Garden Street in Hoboken, this 1919 building once served as both a storage warehouse and coconut processing plant. The factory processed coconuts to be used as shredded toppings on Hostess snowball cupcakes.[1]
(Re)Developer
The developer of the conversion was Lawrence Bijou or Bijou Properties. The firm focuses its efforts on acquiring and transforming under-performing properties and converting them into first-class buildings. Along with this, green building practices are implemented.[2]
SHoP Architects was brought on to lead the conversion project. The Manhattan-based firm includes architectural and construction divisions. Their projects span the US as well as in China and South Korea.[3]
Outcome
Bijou and SHoP successfully finished the conversion project in 2009, resulting in 30 luxury condominiums and a sedum ground-covered, grassy roof for carbon monoxide emissions. The mixed residential high-rise is the first such building in New Jersey to also receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification which it was awarded in 2010.[4]
The construction process utilized environmentally-friendly strategies and materials to repurpose the old factory, so as to create a reduced carbon footprint for its tenants. With the reuse of the building being the ultimate green aspect, the building also includes: cleaner, filtered fresh air; low-VOC paints and finishes; high ceilings and large windows for more natural light and reduced heating/cooling needs; sedum-covered green roof; energy requirements purchased from wind and other alternative energy resources.[5]
The project is helping transform an area once known for its industry into a healthy environment for families looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact.[6]
The Malthouse
Synopsis:
History
This building originally served the community of Richmond as large grain silos.
(Re)Developer
The old grain silos were redeveloped by Nonda Katsalidis of Fender Katsalidis Architects in Southbank, Victoria.
Outcome
Unofficially referred to as the “Crown of Thorns” thanks to the new capping, these large towers are now home to a number of apartments. They are a stark contrast to the surrounding area of low-rise housing. With a single apartment per floor, the added structure contains the living areas while the original silos house the sleeping and services spaces.[1]
