Items Tagged ‘Residential’
Council Backs Redevelopment Plan For Vacant Des Moines Building
Synopsis:
A vacant office hi-rise in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa, may soon be called home for a number of households. Faced with a glut of office space in the downtown area, this adaptive reuse project is seen as great opportunity by both city and business leaders. The proposed 145 units of residence will also help to increase the opportunity and quantity of downtown housing. Having been declared a public nuisance by the City Council in January 2011, the redevelopment of the Des Moines Building will help to alleviate a lot of pressure from the city. The declaration also gave ownership of the building over to the city, who has since approved the sale of the property to Nelson Foutch Joint Ventures.
The adaptive reuse of the building will be a mixed-use project. Nelson Foutch intends to create commercial space on the first two floors and 145 market-rate apartments in the upper floors. In addition to the conversion, a low-rise annex to the tower will be torn down to create an outdoor restaurant area and skywalk access.
The redevelopment does come with an additional incentive for the developer – a 10-year, 100-percent tax abatement package that would equal about $400,000 a year. Time will tell of the abatement incentive will pay off for the community as a whole.
“One Of A Kind” Central High School Historic Site Going Back On The Market
Synopsis:
The former Central High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is ready for a rebirth. The 100-year-old building was previously purchased by SBC Oklahoma in 1982 from the Oklahoma City school board. With the purchase, SBC performed a major adaptive reuse project in order to convert the old educational facility into Class A office space. The late Gothic-inspired building was then bought by Oklahoma Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Co (now called American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Co) in 2005, who maintained the building as office space. American Farmers & Ranchers however has been able to streamline its business and no longer needs as much space as the building affords. The 177,000-square-foot building in downtown is now up for sale, with the prospect of another adaptive reuse project to convert it into a residential property.
Georgetown Green Plans To Buy The G&B Mill Site
Synopsis:
The outlook appears promising for the redevelopment of the former Gilbert & Bennett wire mill now that a new redeveloper has agreed to purchase the site. Georgetown Green plans to close on the purchase from Georgetown Land Development Company in June 2010. Callen Cooper, CEO of Georgetown Green, sees the G&B mill as the perfect combination for transit-oriented development, green and clean technology, and affordable and senior housing. The 2004 master plan for the site, born out of a collaboration between the town, neighboring towns, state and federal officials, will continue to be honored under the new owners. The plan calls for adapting the 55-acre site for housing, office, retail, performing arts space, offices for the Weir Farm Historic Site, as well as a new railroad station. Housing will include single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, affordable and senior housing. While adaptive reuse will be a focal point of the project, it will be used only where feasible.
More details about the project are available here.
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.
Deal Reached to Save Landmark L.A. Hotel
Publication Date:
February 11, 2010Written By:
Jacob AdelmanSource:
Engineering News-RecordRead more...
Synopsis:
Next Century Associates purchased the historic Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles in 2008 with plans to replace it with new towers containing condos and shops. Since that announcement, the community has come out in full force to save this key building. The Century Plaza Hotel was built at the core of Century City – a district of high-rises on the former site of a 20th Century Fox movie lot – and opened in 1966. It was designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, whose later work included New York City’s World Trade Center towers. It is the heart of Century City and a true landmark as it had welcomed home the crew of Apollo 11 as well as hosted President-elect Ronald Reagan’s victory celebration and Bob Hope’s celebrity-studded Century Ball. Next Century has revised its construction plans. The hotel will now be converted to include 400 guest rooms and 45 condominium units. Additional tower/buildings have been approved to be constructing on the sides or back of the hotel, but not to obstruct the building’s presence on the street.
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.
Historic Lexington Foundation Hosts Annual Meeting, Presents Three Founders’ Awards
Publication Date:
January 22, 2010Written By:
Source:
Rockbridge Weekly & The Alleghany JournalRead more...
Synopsis:
The Board of Trustees of Historic Lexington Foundation held their annual meeting on January 20, 2010. At the meeting, the board presented the 2010 Founders’ Awards for outstanding achievement in historic preservation in Lexington and the surrounding area. One of the awards went to recent adaptive reuse projects. The Old First National Bank – the first floor has been renovated for retail use with the second and third floors adapted for upscale one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Leonard-Congello House
Synopsis:
History
This 1875 building once served as a schoolhouse outside of Denver.
(Re)Developer
The homeowners worked with Faleide Architects to convert this 19th century building for their 21st century living needs.
Outcome
Much of the original building remain intact on the exterior aside from the old bell tower. A new addition to the side and rear offer deck and outdoor living space. The homeowners were able to reuse this interesting building without consuming additional land.
Going for Broke
Publication Date:
October 23, 2009Written By:
Anna ScottSource:
Los Angeles Downtown NewsRead more...
Synopsis:
While the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance may have helped spur residential development in downtown LA, the economic downturn has brought a new set of problems. There are currently eight projects in bankruptcy, though these are recently completed or nearing completion. The issue is two-fold: large amount of supply, economic recession.
IDA Adaptive Reuse Policy to Benefit Restorations
Synopsis:
The Eire County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) passed a new Adaptive Reuse Policy to help encourage the private sector to convert and rehabilitate old structures in the county through tax credits. In order to conform to state law, these tax credits are only available if the project qualifies as a “commercial” project. The ECIDA is encouraging mixed-use conversions that include both commercial and residential components. The potential savings was noted to be as much as 20 percent on construction. There was one vote against the policy, as the board member felt that incentives should be provided to encourage industry as opposed to housing. “New housing is not needed because the region is losing population.”