Why Boston developers are reusing old buildings for new homes
Buildings are being transformed from workplaces or churches or fire stations into residential living.
As more residential units are needed in and around Boston, developers are getting creative.
New Boston Ventures is set to begin development next month at the former Holy Trinity German Catholic Church in the South End, turning it into 33 condo units with the help of an eye-catching glass and steel addition.
But as The Boston Globe reports, the South End church is far from the only adaptive reuse project in the area.
According to The Globe:
The Boston area boasts about half a dozen churches in the midst of finding new life as town houses, condominiums, and apartments, and don’t forget the transformations of numerous office buildings, a raincoat warehouse, a rubber-shoe mill, and a courthouse/jail. Many will be mixed-use developments, reflecting the current appetite for living, working, eating, and shopping in a single neighborhood.
One reason this is important is that Mayor Marty Walsh has announced the need to build 53,000 housing units by 2030, and using buildings that are already standing can help in a city without a lot of space to spare.
But that’s not the only benefit.
“For us, these kind of project are really what makes Boston Boston,’’ Greg Galer, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, told Boston.com. “They really provide interesting character around the city, and different neighborhoods have different feels to them.’’
Plus, “these buildings have great bones,’’ he said. They often perform well in terms of energy efficiency, are positioned to be aware of microclimates, and have great big windows for quality lighting.
Fort Point is filled with old industrial buildings that have been repurposed into condos, such as 319 on A. “Some of the best places in the city are when old and new come together,’’ Galer said.
Read the full Globe story here.
See how much Fort Point has changed:
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com