Items Tagged ‘Massachusetts’
Athol Seeking Proposals for Old Factory
Publication Date:
April 6, 2011Written By:
Martin LuttrellSource:
Worcester Telegram & GazetteRead more...
Synopsis:
The Town of Athol hopes to see the former Maroni Furniture Building brought back to life through adaptive reuse. A request-for-proposals has been issued for this building located in the Central Commercial District. A reuse study has already been performed by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency and Winter Street Architects (Salem) which outlines the reduced predevelopment costs and numerous reuse options available. The municipally-owned building was found in need of some deferred maintenance but is structurally sound and suitable for commercial or residential uses. This would not be the first adaptation of the building. Originally built in 1874, the building served as the Kendall Boot Factory before being converted for commercial use.
Ideas Abound for Future Use
Synopsis:
The Town of Amherst (Massachusetts) and leaders of the North Congregational Church are in talks to determine how to best reuse the church building. The congregation at North Church has become too small for the large building. They plan on either renting out a small portion for themselves, or turning the building over completely for a new use. While some talk has included the idea of another religious group taking over the space, many discussions have focused on adapting it for a new use.
The leaders of the church have stated that they do not support the building become condos or retail space. Office space is one consideration, but a lack of parking has stymied this idea. Another idea is for the congregation and the North Amherst Library to trade spaces, providing the library with much-needed room. The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce has voiced its support for the building to be turned into an arts and performance center.
At this point, no plans have been set in stone. The church is awaiting a potential buyer who’s intentions for the structure meet their own desires.
Co. Seeks To Turn Ex-Nursing Home Into Hub Hotel
Synopsis:
A former nursing home in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston may soon be converted into a budget hotel. The current adaptive reuse plan calls for adding two additional floors on top of the old Pond View Nursing Home. Watertown-based SMC Management hopes to repurpose the nursing home into a 40-room hotel which is conveniently located by the city’s Emerald Necklace, MBTA Green Line and the Longwood Medical area. These plans, as well as the purchase of the site, are dependent on whether SMC Management will be granted a zoning variance to add the additional floors.
Interestingly, the article also notes that the former Cleveland Circle Cinema in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston may soon become a hotel as well. Although Goodison stated the hotel is planned for the theatre building, she clarifies that its really only the site that will be used as plans call for the demolition of the old building. There are no details provided as to why the developer for this other project, Boston Development Group, found it more advantageous to build new rather than reuse.
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.
$5M Towards Affordable Housing
Synopsis:
The City of Ludlow is getting ready to convert an old Boys and Girls Club facility into much-needed affordable housing units. Thanks to $5 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this city in Western Massachusetts will be able to create 30 affordable housing units. The units will be allocated to the elderly and disabled within the community. The conversion project is expected to take two years and will help to provide accessible housing opportunities in a vacant, abandoned space.
Oxford House
Synopsis:
History
The historic Christian Science Church was constructed in 1940. It served as the home for the First Church of Christ in the village of Newtonville in Newton, Massachusetts. Designed by Densmore, LeClear and Robbins architects in the Colonial Revival style, the structure served its initial purpose until it was sold in 2004.[1]
(Re)Developer
The developer that purchased the building and initiated its conversion was World Realty + Development of Newton. The architect that performed the adaptive reuse was Jai Singh Khalsa.
Khalsa specializes in the design of affordable housing and government projects and has performed numerous adaptive reuse projects since founding the firm in 1980.
Outcome
The religious structure has been given new life as 11 condominium homes. The units feature 16-foot ceilings with lofts up to 25-feet high, with one unit that includes a two-story library in the steeple.[2] The redevelopment was also the first project in Newton under the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance, adopted in 2003, required that any new residential development needed 15% of the units set as affordable in perpetuity.[3]
Prescott Neighbors Push Back
Synopsis:
Residents of Groton, Massachusetts, are speaking up about what they want to see happen with the old Prescott School. The public meeting on February 6th saw the community asking the town to sidetable plans to convert the building for residential and commercial use and instead keep it as a public asset. While the original discussion was whether to sell it to a private developer or to adapt it for affordable housing, the meeting brought out a new request to have it remain as some type of education center. Any reuse proposal for Prescott will need to go through town meeting, though the Board of Selectmen hope to find a new use so that the building does not go vacant and deteriorate.
Schools Getting New Life As Housing
Publication Date:
February 10, 2010Written By:
Richard ConnSource:
The Daily News TribuneRead more...
Synopsis:
The City of Waltham, Massachusetts, is taking advantage of the current real estate market by converting two unused school buildings in their system into senior housing – at a fraction of the cost. The old Hardy School, which was donated to the city by Bentley University, is currently undergoing renovations. It will soon include 19 apartments and a community room. Originally estimated at a $1-million price tag, the project total has come to $640,000. The city is now accepting bids to also adapt the Banks School on Main Street into about 30 units of housing for those 62 and older. A number of units in both buildings will be available for “Section 8″ housing, though the final total has not been determined. This is great news as the city is turning its unused assets into profit-generating buildings while also providing more affordable housing for the elderly.
Fields Corner Municipal Building
Synopsis:
History
Built in 1874, this building served multiple purposes. It housed the Boston neighborhood’s District 11 Police Station as well as the first branch public library in the United States. It was designed in the Victorian Gothic style by George Clough, the first official architect for the City of Boston. The building was closed down in the 1970s and then experienced a number of fires in the 1980s. It is now currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
(Re)Developer
The Fields Corner Community Development Corporation (FCCDC) is dedicated to facilitating the availability of housing and promoting economic development in order to enhance the environment for a healthy residential life in the Dorchester area of Boston, Massachusetts. FCCDC was formed by a coalition of neighborhood organizations already active in improving their respective neighborhoods: Clampoint Neighborhood Association, Dorchester Gardenlands Preserve and Development Corporation, Dorchester Neighbors Organizing Neighbors, Freeport Adams Development Corporation, and Meeting House Hill Improvement. Incorporated on April 11, 1980, its purpose was to plan and stimulate development in the Fields Corner Community to encourage further growth of the area as a residential community and to maintain a stable business community. FCCDC indicated in its Article of Organization that it would accomplish this mission by promoting business ventures and providing assistance to neighborhood groups which are involved in designing and planning activities within the Fields Corner target area.[2]
Outcome
The City of Boston had planned to raze the building, but FCCDC successfully blocked the action in court. Subsequently an intricate package of financing to rehabilitate the property was brought together by the Fields Corner CDC, who acted as developer on the construction. The property reopened in 1985 with 13 units of affordable rental housing on the second and third floors and commercial space on the first floor. Additional funding was required to renovate the old jail in the basement to a space suitable for a restaurant.[3]
The adaptive reuse of this old municipal building within the heart of Fields Corner is a great step to rebuilding and strengthening the community. Rather than losing its character to the wrecking ball, Fields Corner CDC has successfully shown that there is opportunity in the abandoned building as well as within the community itself. The great mix of uses within the renovated building will ensure constant use and activity for years to come.
Ames Boston Hotel
Synopsis:
History
The Ames Building was built in 1893 and was considered (though incorrectly) to be the tallest building in Boston until 1915. It served as an office tower and was Boston’s first skyscraper. Designed in Richardsonian Romanesque, it is the second tallest masonry load bearing-wall structure in the world.
(Re)Developer
Normandy Real Estate Partners purchased the building in 2007 and worked with Morgans Hotel Group to convert the National Historic Building.
Outcome
Opening in 2009, the adapted building now serves as a 114-room modern hotel in the heart of Boston. Along with the hotel, the upscale Woodward restaurant was incorporated into the ground floor. After eight years of vacancy, the Ames is alive and well again.[1]
