The construction of Ayer Lofts in Lowell involved the adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

Development in Greater Boston’s residential market has soared during the past several years and continues to climb despite the slowing economy. The growth rate of multifamily residential construction in the Boston area is healthier than in many other regions of the country as demand is driven by a high concentration of businesses in the educational, financial and health care industries. Affordable housing remains a top priority in the City of Boston as the need for housing continues to grow throughout the city. Demand for market rate in the surrounding suburbs remains high. As a result, the activity in private and public residential construction and renovation projects can be observed throughout eastern Massachusetts.

Unlike the early 90s, financing for residential construction has become more appealing due to high rents and low interest rates. Growth in the private sector has been extensive, including both new building construction and renovation and addition projects.

Suffolk Construction Co. is constructing several Boston projects. Wilkes Passage, designed by Doug Dolezal and Whitney Atwood Norcross Assoc., is located on Washington Street in an area of the South End currently enjoying revitalization. When complete, this 7-story, mixed-use facility will contain 155 residential loft-style condominiums, 18,000 square feet of street level retail space, and two levels of below grade parking for 370 vehicles.

Across the street from Wilkes Passage, construction of Rollins Square is underway. This is a fine example of the progress being made towards Boston’s ongoing initiative to create more affordable housing for its residents. Rollins Square is the result of a unique collaboration of government, the religious community and private business. The development is being financed by the Department of Neighborhood Development, Neighborhood Housing Trust, Department of Housing and Community Development, FleetBoston Financial and Massachusetts Housing Financing Agency. The developer is the Planning Office for Urban Affairs at the Archdiocese of Boston and the architect is CBT / Childs Bertman Tseckares. This 310,000 square foot, 6-story building will contain 184 units of mixed-income residences, 6,000 square feet of retail space, and a 198 space below grade parking garage.

One block from Boston’s Fenway Park sits the recently completed Landmark Square Apartments. After nine months of preconstruction and 14 months of construction, Suffolk delivered this 132-unit apartment building offering luxurious living minutes from Downtown Boston. Designed by The Architectural Team, this 203,565 square foot, 7-story building features a brick masonry and an Arriscraft façade that reflects the architecture of its Fenway neighborhood.

The Nautica project, located on Constitution Road in Charlestown, is another sign that the multifamily residential market is vital. Designed by Neshamkin/French Architects, this residential community will be comprised of eight buildings housing a total of 117 luxury condominium units—townhouses, flats, and duplexes. Each building will reflect the distinctive historic architecture of the Charlestown area. Exterior building features will include red brick masonry, cut stone, pitched roofs with dormers, and wood window frames.

Suburban private residential developments can also be observed throughout Boston’s neighboring communities. Sagamore Towers in Quincy, an existing 225 unit, 12-story apartment building, is undergoing extensive renovation by Suffolk’s Special Projects Division. With Suffolk’s sensitivity to minimize disruptions, all base building upgrades are being performed while the building is occupied. Exterior revitalization includes work to the exterior faÁade, balconies, and windows. Inside, the lobby, hallways, laundry room and common areas are being renovated. Individual resident units will also be modernized with new appliances and finishes in the kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living rooms. Full mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades will be installed and the complex will be made handicap accessible.

Central Square, located at 622-638 Massachusetts Avenue, in Cambridge, is another multifamily residential project that was recently completed by Suffolk. Designed by The Architectural Team, this mixed-use building is located on an extremely dense, urban, 0.75-acre site between Harvard University and MIT. The six-story, 172,226 square foot facility has retail space on the first floor, office space on the second floor, and 72 apartment units on floors three through six. A convenient, 80-space, below grade parking garage was also constructed at Central Square.

Go West
West of Boston, another newly constructed residential facility, Cronin’s Landing, fronts the Charles River in Waltham. Designed by ADD Inc, this mixed-use residential and retail development sits on the site of the former Grover Cronin department store. The landmark store’s historic, art-deco, limestone facade was saved and incorporated into the new development to recognize the building’s longstanding place in this community. This facility consists of 537,000 square feet – 389,000 square feet of apartment space in 280 units, 25,000 square feet of retail space, and 131,685 square feet of below grade parking for 490 cars. Cronin’s Landing offers picturesque views of the Charles River and Downtown Boston.

Now Face North
North of Boston, Suffolk’s Special Projects Division recently completed Ayers Lofts in Lowell. This project involved the renovation and adaptive reuse of two historic buildings within the Lowell Historic National Park into a combined 70,000 square foot building containing 51 loft-style residential condominium units, many designated as homes for area artists. The development also includes an art gallery to display resident artists’ work. The lofts feature historically correct windows, exposed wood beams and cast iron columns and untreated brick walls. The units are provided with modern appliances, cabinetry and central air conditioning.

In the public sector, opportunities are also growing in multifamily housing, including building renovations, additions and new structures. Suffolk is currently constructing several public projects including Roxse Homes and Mission Main, both located in Roxbury.

Roxse Homes is part of the HUD Demonstration Disposition Program that provided over $220 million funds for construction and renovation of 11 packages of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development foreclosed housing located in the Roxbury, South End and Dorchester neighborhoods of Boston. Once completed, ownership will be transferred to residents or resident-selected owners. The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency is administering the program for HUD. This Demonstration is HUD’s largest inner-city investment anywhere in the nation. Begun in May 1998, and scheduled to be completed in Winter 2001, this $48 million residential project involved extensive renovation and environmental remediation of thirteen existing buildings on three sites—one 8-story high-rise facility and twelve buildings of 3-story flats and townhouses. The number of units was decreased from 364 to 346 in order to reduce the density and enhance the living environment at the facilities, as well as to provide handicapped accessible units. Notably, residents of the development participated extensively in the planning and design, working with the architectural joint venture of Icon Architecture and Hezekiah Pratt Associates, Inc.

Mission Main is another large-scale public, multifamily residential project involving extensive preconstruction services, renovation, and new construction of approximately 565,000 square feet of residential living space. Through the Boston Housing Authority and HUD direction, more than 585 units of housing will be created on this 28-acre parcel located in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood. Suffolk is working in partnership with Cruz Construction, and the project architect is Chia-Ming Zse Architects.

As these examples demonstrate the Greater Boston area continues to undergo extensive growth in the multifamily residential market, with demand far outweighing supply. While change in activity may be forthcoming to some degree, the need for multifamily residential housing is likely to continue to grow.