Architecture
Moderate Rehabilitation
- Type
Newcastle Saranac Apartments
Boston, MA
The $18 million modernization of Newcastle Saranac Apartments involved the rehabilitation of two masonry walk-up buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in Boston’s South End. The design team upgraded the structures by performing extensive masonry repairs, roof and window replacements, kitchen and bathroom unit upgrades including the installation of energy efficient appliances. A complete overhaul of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems included boiler replacement with contemporary models, a measure predicted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.
Preservation efforts featured the restoration of the Newcastle Building’s historic iron cast clock and decorative metal gate, both of which date from the early 1900s. Cutting-edge environmental remediation systems were installed at the Saranac Building, to lessen environmental impact and extract pollutants from the soil. Amenities include a resident community lounge, laundry facilities, a private interior courtyard at The Newcastle Apartments, and on-site management.
Protecting existing residents from displacement and preserving the affordability of the mixed-income properties was a primary goal of the redevelopment. Of the 97 units, 82 are affordable to households earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with eight of those units being supported by project-based Section 8 rental subsidy and 30 supported by Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program vouchers, with 69 units are affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of AMI.
A transit-oriented development, the Newcastle Saranac Apartments are located just minutes from the MBTA Orange Line subway and bus lines along Massachusetts Avenue. Walkable attractions include Boston Symphony Hall, the Museum of Fine arts and New England Conservatory of Music, Northeastern University, and other conveniences like schools, hospitals, retail, and restaurants.
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