57 JFK Street | Harvard Sq. | Cambridge

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bigpicture7

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A new proposal has been submitted to the Cambridge Special Permits site for a substantial addition/renovation to 57 JFK St.
This was discussed previously as a possible office expansion, but has now shifted to adding 40 residential units atop the two floors of retail.

From special permits site:
www.cambridgema.gov

PB390

special permit application
www.cambridgema.gov www.cambridgema.gov

Via application graphics (above):
57jfk-1.png



57jfk-2.png



57jfk-3.png
 
This proposal looks great. It is fairly modern with quite a bit of quality detail. Definitely not another cheap looking Kenmore Square North cardboard box. Also not another brick 19th century wanna-be like much of the other developments in the Harvard Square area in the last few decades. I give this proposal kudos for being a bit daring (for Harvard Square) and stylish, but not obnoxious.
 
Charlie_mta said:
This proposal looks great. It is fairly modern with quite a bit of quality detail. Definitely not another cheap looking Kenmore Square North cardboard box. Also not another brick 19th century wanna-be like much of the other developments in the Harvard Square area in the last few decades. I give this proposal kudos for being a bit daring (for Harvard Square) and stylish, but not obnoxious.
Click to expand...

This was my initial read too, but I have yet to go through the documents to know what the materials are. This thing could very well end up extremely cheap looking if they don't use quality materials, and its hard to read through the image posted above as to what their actual plan is.

I never trust a rendering anymore; I trust the more technical drawings, labels, narratives, etc. a bit more....
 
stefal said:
This was my initial read too, but I have yet to go through the documents to know what the materials are. This thing could very well end up extremely cheap looking if they don't use quality materials, and its hard to read through the image posted above as to what their actual plan is.

I never trust a rendering anymore; I trust the more technical drawings, labels, narratives, etc. a bit more....
Click to expand...
So true. That, and the VE process that can eliminate and cheapen things.
 
Last edited:
bigpicture7 said:
Looks like a conditional approval.
Click to expand...
I'm not crazy about it, but it's more than decent. The stepped-back garden terraces on the upper floors make it look cut off, and the bottom first two floors have an uneventful, kind of boring paneling, but thankfully something like Kenmore Square North isn't being proposed for here.
 
-This is U/C now.

Crimson Galeria Building Pivots to Residential for 3-Story, 38-Unit Addition in Harvard Square

Crimson-Galeria.jpg


“Cambridge, MA – Nauset Construction has begun implementing significant building support measures and structural steel upgrades to the Crimson Galeria building in Harvard Square as the owners pivot from office uses to apartments for the planned three-story vertical addition.

The owners originally permitted the building to construct office space on top of the Crimson Galeria, but during the COVID-19 pandemic decided to pursue a residential addition to the building instead, for which they received a Special Permit.

“There is an obvious need for both market-rate and affordable units in this market – certainly more than there is currently for office – and this addition will deliver both,” said Crimson Galeria LP principal Rachna Balakrishna. “We own and operate another mixed-use property with apartments and ground-floor retail in Harvard Square that is always oversubscribed and continues to perform well for us, and we fully anticipate that the Crimson Galeria apartments will also do well.”

Designed by NELSON Worldwide, the new residential addition will be home to 38 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, with approximately 20% designated as affordable. The initial phases of the project began before the pandemic and are now complete. These phases focused on interior upgrades to the existing retail space within the Crimson Galeria, as well as the construction of an Eversource vault to provide increased power for the new addition. To provide additional support for the multifamily units, Nauset is now orchestrating the installation of 42 micropiles, four super columns, and significant additional structural steel building upgrades...”

https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/c...r-3-story-38-unit-addition-in-harvard-square/







https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media...ssion/pdf/chcmeetingfiles/case4632_plans2.pdf

Current site
image.jpg
 
stick n move said:
-This is U/C now.

Crimson Galeria Building Pivots to Residential for 3-Story, 38-Unit Addition in Harvard Square

Crimson-Galeria.jpg


“Cambridge, MA – Nauset Construction has begun implementing significant building support measures and structural steel upgrades to the Crimson Galeria building in Harvard Square as the owners pivot from office uses to apartments for the planned three-story vertical addition.

The owners originally permitted the building to construct office space on top of the Crimson Galeria, but during the COVID-19 pandemic decided to pursue a residential addition to the building instead, for which they received a Special Permit.

“There is an obvious need for both market-rate and affordable units in this market – certainly more than there is currently for office – and this addition will deliver both,” said Crimson Galeria LP principal Rachna Balakrishna. “We own and operate another mixed-use property with apartments and ground-floor retail in Harvard Square that is always oversubscribed and continues to perform well for us, and we fully anticipate that the Crimson Galeria apartments will also do well.”

Designed by NELSON Worldwide, the new residential addition will be home to 38 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, with approximately 20% designated as affordable. The initial phases of the project began before the pandemic and are now complete. These phases focused on interior upgrades to the existing retail space within the Crimson Galeria, as well as the construction of an Eversource vault to provide increased power for the new addition. To provide additional support for the multifamily units, Nauset is now orchestrating the installation of 42 micropiles, four super columns, and significant additional structural steel building upgrades...”

https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/c...r-3-story-38-unit-addition-in-harvard-square/







https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media...ssion/pdf/chcmeetingfiles/case4632_plans2.pdf

Current site
image.jpg
Click to expand...

I love this project--Harvard Sq should really have a lot more housing.
 
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