The New Residential Conversion Thread

[thepixelnation]

That building is on the corner, I feel like people could walk around for pickups. or maybe have a hotel only section with bollards?

Are there any hotels in Boston with a address not 100% on the street that requires a walk up?

 

[JeffDowntown]

That building is on the corner, I feel like people could walk around for pickups. or maybe have a hotel only section with bollards?

Are there any hotels in Boston with a address not 100% on the street that requires a walk up?

104 Canal is on the corner. 110 Canal is right next door, but only on Canal. Valenti Way, the side street, is going to be challenging for curb cuts because it is a narrow 2 way street. (Not even any parking to eliminate, just driving lanes and narrow sidewalk.)

We should be able to support hotels with no drive up drop off/pick up zone (that close to transit), but I am not sure we really can in the US.

 

[thepixelnation]

We should be able to support hotels with no drive up drop off/pick up zone (that close to transit), but I am not sure we really can in the US.

Reminds me of a time I was staying with my family in Florence. My dad took our rental car and drove up to the front door of our hotel, a couple of blocks from the Duomo. The bellhops/concierge were baffled with how we were able to do so, since it is illegal and pretty difficult to drive your way into the city as a nonresident.

 

[stick n move]

40+ Units Planned for Downtown Office to Resi Conversion​

“Charlestown-based developer, Greg McCarthy is planning a third office-to-residential conversion, this time at 4 Liberty Square. The project would convert a mostly vacant, 26,000+ square foot office to 42 apartments. McCarthy has already won approval for conversions in the South End & Bulfinch Triangle utilizing the City's office to resi tax incentive program.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/40-units-planned-for-downtown-office-to-resi-conversion

 

[Justbuildit]

Absolutely love to see it. Post Office Square and nearby areas like Liberty Square should be the heart of downtown Boston. Such good walkable urbanism but not enough residential.

 

[stick n move]

50+ Units Planned for North End Office to Residential Conversion​

“Copper Mill Development is planning a residential conversion of the office property at 123 North Washington Street in the North End. The property is currently only 25% occupied with the two remaining leases set to expire in the next 18 months. Plans call for the conversion of 40K+ SF to 57 apartments.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/50-units-planned-for-north-end-office-to-residential-conversion

 

[curcuas]

Really one they should put a tower on.

 

[stick n move]

20 Charlesgate West Approved.

“The proposed Our Lady’s Guild House (“OLGH”) project by Fenway CDC and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs includes the complete renovation and modernization of a 140-room lodging house into an 86-unit rental building in the Kenmore Square neighborhood. This Project is the culmination of years of advocacy on behalf of residents to purchase the building and return it to its original mission of providing affordable housing. The 6-story elevator building will include 22 enhanced permanent supportive housing Single Room Occupancy (“SRO”) apartments, 45 studio apartments, 19 one-bedroom apartments, a community room with kitchen and storage, an office, lounge, laundry facilities, other ancillary spaces, and bicycle parking. The Project and neighborhood are extraordinarily well situated because of the Project’s proximity to transportation, medical facilities, shopping, places of worship, recreational facilities, places of employment, and other necessary services for the prospective residents.”

https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/20-charlesgate-west

 

[shmessy]

20 Charlesgate West Approved.

“The proposed Our Lady’s Guild House (“OLGH”) project by Fenway CDC and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs includes the complete renovation and modernization of a 140-room lodging house into an 86-unit rental building in the Kenmore Square neighborhood. This Project is the culmination of years of advocacy on behalf of residents to purchase the building and return it to its original mission of providing affordable housing. The 6-story elevator building will include 22 enhanced permanent supportive housing Single Room Occupancy (“SRO”) apartments, 45 studio apartments, 19 one-bedroom apartments, a community room with kitchen and storage, an office, lounge, laundry facilities, other ancillary spaces, and bicycle parking. The Project and neighborhood are extraordinarily well situated because of the Project’s proximity to transportation, medical facilities, shopping, places of worship, recreational facilities, places of employment, and other necessary services for the prospective residents.”

https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/20-charlesgate-west

This isn't technically a residential "conversion" - - in the sense that it isn't office or lab - to - residences. It's "converting 140 lodging rooms into 86 units of apartments. The post-pandemic urban conversion" movement" is really intent of changing the office/lab aspect into residential. Basically, it's a "Residential-to-Residential" conversion.

 

[Justbuildit]

Beantown Pub is such a staple, and hopefully it does remain. Had my first date with my wife there and have an amazing photo of it framed in my house here in Nashville. Really hope it sticks around

Following up from earlier this year, Suffolk put out an updated presentation for their proposed conversion of 101 Tremont to dorms. Slide 22 says "Existing ground floor retail to remain". I guess it's not an explicit promise to keep Beantown Pub, but it seems that could be the case. The renderings on slide 17 also retain the Beantown signage. 280 new beds right in the heart of downtown is a great addition, and while Beantown isn't my favorite spot it's an institution, so hopefully it stays put.

Comments are also open, so if it's important to you go ahead and drop one in.

2024-11-20_Presentation_Suffolk University - 101 Tremont Street.pptx | Powered by Box

bpda.app.box.com

 

[stick n move]

15 Court Square​

“Conversion of an existing eleven (11) story office building in Boston Proper into a residential use with eighty (80) rental units. Residential units will comprise all floors above Ground Level and Lower Level retail spaces, which will remain as is. No Off-Street Parking will be provided.”

https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/15-court-square

 

[bigpicture7]

31 Milk Street

110 units in an 11-story building -- seems to be one of the biggest office-residential conversion projects proposed thus far:

Milk Street office building could soon become apartments - The Boston Globe

A Newton-based developer has filed plans to convert the downtown building into 110 apartments, a project that would cost an estimated $52.5 million.

www.bostonglobe.com

 

[Justbuildit]

Oh hell yes. Other than a few older Post Office Square buildings, 45 Milk St, and the Winthrop Building at Water/Washington, this one is on my bingo card for buildings that are perfect for conversion. For those who don't know the area, it's just off Post Office Square and is near a few restaurants/coffee joints and bars. Very handsome building as well. With the existing applicant at Washington/Water and a few proposals down near Liberty Square, these projects could do a ton for foot traffic in the Financial District.

 

[stefal]

~$480K/unit... will be a steep asking price, but more units and more full buildings downtown is great to me.

 

[#bancars]

Oh hell yes. Other than a few older Post Office Square buildings, 45 Milk St, and the Winthrop Building at Water/Washington, this one is on my bingo card for buildings that are perfect for conversion. For those who don't know the area, it's just off Post Office Square and is near a few restaurants/coffee joints and bars. Very handsome building as well. With the existing applicant at Washington/Water and a few proposals down near Liberty Square, these projects could do a ton for foot traffic in the Financial District.

View attachment 58662

"Dinosaur Capital Partners LLC" lol

 

[Justbuildit]

40+ Units Planned for Downtown Office to Resi Conversion​

“Charlestown-based developer, Greg McCarthy is planning a third office-to-residential conversion, this time at 4 Liberty Square. The project would convert a mostly vacant, 26,000+ square foot office to 42 apartments. McCarthy has already won approval for conversions in the South End & Bulfinch Triangle utilizing the City's office to resi tax incentive program.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/40-units-planned-for-downtown-office-to-resi-conversion

According to Uhub, the first filings for 4 Liberty Square are now on the BPDA website. If you like these conversions the public comments are open until next month....

The proposed project will provide a unique mix of apartment sizes, including five Two bedroom homes, one (1) bedroom homes, and thirty studios. 7 Of these units would be affordable. A bike room will allow for bike storage for each resident. The project is also a very short walk to multiple Train lines, as well as MBTA bus stops.

4 Liberty Square | Bostonplans.org

Development Projects and Planned Development Areas (PDAs) that the Development Review division is coordinating.

www.bostonplans.org

 

[Paletexan]

I’d love to move into one of these for location and character if I can afford. But biggest benefit is they won’t be haunted since ghosts avoid commercial property

 

[stick n move]

-Approved

259-267 summer st, fort point:
https://bpda.app.box.com/s/3buyeqgzj2cv6kwvaccar4o9tn6yx6pa

 

[cooper]

15 Court Square​

View attachment 58271

“Conversion of an existing eleven (11) story office building in Boston Proper into a residential use with eighty (80) rental units. Residential units will comprise all floors above Ground Level and Lower Level retail spaces, which will remain as is. No Off-Street Parking will be provided.”

https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/15-court-square

I'm all for restoring this side of the building and getting rid of this ugly wall of random windows
ows.

 

[themissinglink]

Want to live in a converted office tower? Boston has high hopes for its high rises. - The Boston Globe

The Boston Planning Department has 14 applications in hand for some 690 units, mostly in downtown, and the program has been extended through next December.

www.bostonglobe.com

The program has been extended by 18 months and is open through next December. There’s hope someone will try to convert a high-rise office tower — or at least part of one — or maybe even a lab-to-residential swap. And there’s interest from neighborhoods outside of the central business district, including Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury.
[...]
“We’d love to see the first high-rise conversion take place in Boston,” Weil said. “That’s definitely something where we’ve sort of put the call to action out to developers and issued the challenge to them to please come to us with one of these projects.”
A few 1970s- and 1980s-era towers could be good conversion candidates, said Prataap Patrose, senior adviser to the chief of planning at the Boston Planning Department. High-rise towers typically have about a 50-year lifespan before they require major reinvestment to their building systems, particularly HVAC and mechanicals, he said. When a building needs big investment anyway, it might be a good time to think about a new use.