Old Colony phase 4, 5, & 6 | 72-110 Mercer street | South Boston

[stick n move]

Cant believe there wasnt a thread for this.

Old Colony (Phase 4 and 5)​

“The Final Phase will include the demolition of 208 existing units and the construction of 342 new apartments that will be undertaken in three phases (Phase 4, Phase 5 and Phase 6). This will accomplish the goal in Phase 4 and Phase 5 with a one-to-one replacement of 208 apartments, plus in Phase 6 to be approved separately from the 121A projects at a later date, a new production of 134 additional affordable apartments and affordable condominiums.

Buildings will have townhouse-style direct entry apartments on the first floor to the extent possible due to flood plain and climate resiliency design considerations. The buildings will be designed similar to previous phases using modern materials that will better integrate the buildings into the surrounding neighborhoods and eliminate the industrial feeling associated with public housing developments of the mid-1900s. Ground floor units will have individual front door entries. Small office for local service providers as well as a small ancillary maintenance space will be included in the buildings.

The Final Phase will complete the 10-year redevelopment of Old Colony – weaving the community back into the fabric of South Boston and creating new view corridors both to downtown Boston and the waterfront. The landscaped open spaces will also improve stormwater runoff conditions and allow for groundwater infiltration.”

https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/old-colony-phase-4-and-5

https://cranshaw.com/portfolio-page/old-colony-phases-4-5/

Pnf
https://bpda.app.box.com/s/ozcpnukkwy16juisqgx06pz45s59vnj4


BPDA approves final phase of the Old Colony housing redevelopment

“The Boston Planning & Development Agency has approved the sixth and final phase of the Boston Housing Authority’s redevelopment of the Old Colony housing project in South Boston.

Phase six includes the development of a five-story building which will be entirely income-restricted – including age-restricted senior housing. The 89 units will be a mix of one-, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom units.

The project will include ground floor community space, which developers expect to be leased by a local South Boston arts organization working with low-income individuals, according to the filing.

It will also contribute to area improvements including new neighborhood pedestrian connections, and onsite bicycle storage.”

https://bostonagentmagazine.com/202...hase-of-the-old-colony-housing-redevelopment/


https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/old-colony-phase-6

 

[stick n move]

Old Colony Final Phase Update 01/15/24​

Construction Update: Old Colony Redevelopment

“Framing is complete for phases 4 & 5 within the Old Colony redevelopment in South Boston. The project will create 208 units within two new buildings. The new buildings are slated for completion in the fall of 2024. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification and Passive House standards.”

Bldup link

 

[stick n move]

Beacon Communities Closes on Financing for Old Colony Phase 6​

“Beacon Communities has closed on financing for Old Colony Phase 6, the final step in the transformation of the Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony into a vibrant, modern community for residents in South Boston. Old Colony Phase 6 will feature 89 apartments for families and seniors, with construction set to begin soon. The building will also include a community space to be home to SPOKE, a community-based arts organization.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/beacon-communities-closes-on-financing-for-old-colony-phase-6

 

[BeeLine]

From last weekend.

 

[BeeLine]

From 8/4

 

[BeeLine]

Work on the phase 6 building coming long nicely.

 

[BeeLine]

Phase 4/5 West building.

 

[BeeLine]

Phase 4/5 East building.

 

[mssrro]

1/18:

Phase 6

 

[Jeremi]

We will come to regret building our city out of 2x4s and paper.

 

[chrisbrat]

We will come to regret building our city out of 2x4s and paper.

And the triple-deckers that remain in most non-CBD areas of metro Boston were only estimated to have a lifespan of 50 or so years.

Not everything can be built with the highest-cost and highest quality materials and this fact has been true since... forever. Plenty of "our city" is being built out in robust fashion and some developments are, by necessity, done at a lower budget.

I don't see how or why this is cause for alarm or negativity.

 

[Jeremi]

And the triple-deckers that remain in most non-CBD areas of metro Boston were only estimated to have a lifespan of 50 or so years.

Not everything can be built with the highest-cost and highest quality materials and this fact has been true since... forever. Plenty of "our city" is being built out in robust fashion and some developments are, by necessity, done at a lower budget.

I don't see how or why this is cause for alarm or negativity.

Nearly 100% of the residential development is being done in this cheap way, and the triple deckers (most of which need to go) aren’t large apartment buildings. Big cities like Chicago and New York have banned this kind of construction for a reason.

 

[Czervik.Construction]

I lived in a 5 over 1 like these after living in a $700M Hudson Yards high rise. The 5 over 1 was quite nice and did not feel cheap at all. They are built better than most of the single family homes that are being tossed up all over the burbs.
Imagine everything being new and in working order? No leaky pipes, central heat/AC that always works, kitchen appliances that work, etc. In a metro where so much of the city stock is ageing like Boston, this is absolutely needed.

 

[Jeremi]

I lived in a 5 over 1 like these after living in a $700M Hudson Yards high rise. The 5 over 1 was quite nice and did not feel cheap at all. They are built better than most of the single family homes that are being tossed up all over the burbs.
Imagine everything being new and in working order? No leaky pipes, central heat/AC that always works, kitchen appliances that work, etc. In a metro where so much of the city stock is ageing like Boston, this is absolutely needed.

I mean the fact that every sleazy developer wants to use this kind of construction is proof positive that it is cheap. Wood chips, formaldehyde binders, fire retardant chemicals. Tape the whole thing together with cheap laborers and cover it in vinyl. The interiors can have onyx and brass so they don’t “feel” cheap, but they are, and we will find that out the hard way.

 

[sean99090900]

I've never been a believer in this 'build it once' philosophy of housing stock. If we become comfortable with the idea that we can continually tear down and rebuild we can edge closer to a healthier market like in Japan. Being unreasonably attached to individual structures is part of what got us into this mess.

 

[Jeremi]

I've never been a believer in this 'build it once' philosophy of housing stock. If we become comfortable with the idea that we can continually tear down and rebuild we can edge closer to a healthier market like in Japan. Being unreasonably attached to individual structures is part of what got us into this mess.

Endless dead streets of replaceable vinyl architecture doesn’t seem like a great way to build a city.

 

[sean99090900]

Endless dead streets of replaceable vinyl architecture doesn’t seem like a great way to build a city.

Why not? Because it doesn't satisfy an architectural connoisseur's aesthetic preferences? Real people who live in these buildings love them, look at the premium they're willing to pay for one over a room in a mid century brick building. Rationalizing housing prices through mass production are the first, second and third items on my list of things that need to happen in Boston.

 

[Jeremi]

Why not? Because it doesn't satisfy an architectural connoisseur's aesthetic preferences? Real people who live in these buildings love them, look at the premium they're willing to pay for one over a room in a mid century brick building. Rationalizing housing prices through mass production are the first, second and third items on my list of things that need to happen in Boston.

This is the architectural connoisseur’s forum.

 

[chrisbrat]

This is the architectural connoisseur’s forum.

Connoisseur need not be equivalent to snob.

I, too, think it'd be just swell if every new building was hand-laid brick and featured fine detail-work, solid materials, and represent elegant and/or adventurous design.

There were workers' huts and farms mere yards away from the Parthenon was it was being built and plenty of humble cabins within a mile or so of the elegant town-houses of Commonwealth Ave as they were being constructed. Not everyone is wealthy enough to afford the non-"cheap" developments you yearn for.

 

[Jeremi]

Connoisseur need not be equivalent to snob.

I, too, think it'd be just swell if every new building was hand-laid brick and featured fine detail-work, solid materials, and represent elegant and/or adventurous design.

There were workers' huts and farms mere yards away from the Parthenon was it was being built and plenty of humble cabins within a mile or so of the elegant town-houses of Commonwealth Ave as they were being constructed. Not everyone is wealthy enough to afford the non-"cheap" developments you yearn for.

It clearly isn’t a question of wealth when you consider the sticker prices some people are paying for these things.

Look, New York churns out affordable units in high density areas without resorting to this kind of fast casual slapdash stuff (because again, it’s illegal).

Here’s a new building in the Bronx, 100% affordable. Sure it’s a bland, unadorned, box but it’s miles beyond the vinyl numbers we get up our way. Nobody is going to mistake this for an off-ramp building in Waltham. Just as important: this is a precast concrete plank building - no wood chips in sight.