Former churches, many of which are sitting on prime urban real estate, are being converted into libraries, restaurants, and with greater frequency condominiums, which appear to be somewhat less objectionable than other types of renovation or demolition plans to preservationists and community opponents.
There have been several recent examples of this kind of adaptive reuse of churches receiving local approval. Community Board 7, representing New York City’s Upper West Side, on April 15 voted in favor of granting a developer a zoning exemption to convert the 112-year-old, 47,000-sf, former First Church of Christ, Scientist, on 96th Street and Central Park West, into 39 condos.
That vote came despite picketing by Local 78 of the Laborers International Union of North America to protest what the union says are substandard wages paid by an asbestos-removal, according to the New York Times. The city’s Landmark Preservation Commission, which had opposed the conversion, in March gave its okay after the developer—361 CPW LLC, which paid $26 million for this site last year—agreed to reduce the number of windows it wanted to add to the structure.
Perhaps nowhere in America is this church-to-condo trend as evident as it is in Boston, where the Catholic Church in particular has closed many houses of worship.
In Philadelphia, Narbeth United Methodist Church, built in 1929, has been transformed into the three-building Narbeth Place, with a mix of townhouses and condos. One of the buildings on site, Barrie House, had been a parsonage and is now three condos.The developer preserved that building’s original’s windows, fireplace, railings, tile, and lighting.
Perhaps nowhere in America is this church-to-condo trend as evident as it is in Boston, where the Catholic Church in particular has closed many houses of worship. Boston’s condo market is booming, and church conversion plans seem to be navigating any community and municipal roadblocks.
For instance, residents of South Boston have railed against plans to convert the 139-year-old St. Augustine’s Church at 225 Dorchester Street into luxury condos since that church was closed in 2004. (Curbed Boston reports the locals also wanted more parking out of any changes.)
Developer Bruce Daniel originally wanted to tear down the church, but was unable to overcome the community’s “sentimental feeling about that building,” he told the Boston Globe.
Plan B, which has been approved, will renovate the church into 29 condos while preserving St Augustine’s exterior. Construction is underway.
An even bolder reinvention is taking place at the former Holy Trinity German Catholic Church and rectory at 136 Shawmut Avenue, built in 1874, but vacant for the past five years. (The existing building is 32,945 sf., and its tower spires reach to approximately 110 feet. The land it sits on is 17,272 sf.)
In a letter it sent to the Boston Redevelopment Authority on March 19, the project’s architect, Finegold Alexander Architects, said it would clean, repair, and make limited modifications to the church’s existing Roxbury Puddingstone exterior. A new eight-story steel structure with glass curtain wall would be constructed along the existing walls of the church and contain 33 residential units within 57,904 sf of space.
The basement level will include 24 parking spaces, tenant support space, and a new access ramp from Shawmut Avenue. The main entry would be modified to permit accessibility, and the project will comply with city requirements with respect to groundwater.
One-, two-, and three-bedroom condos would range in size from 411 to 3,027 sf.
The Building Team on their proposed project includes New Boston Ventures (owner/developer), Boston Survey (survey consultant), HW Moore Associates (CE), McNamara Salvia (SE), WSP (MEP), and Kyle Zick Landscape Architecture (Landscape Architect).
Related Stories
Standards | Apr 1, 2024
New technical bulletin covers window opening control devices
A new technical bulletin clarifies the definition of a window opening control device (WOCD) to promote greater understanding of the role of WOCDs and provide an understanding of a WOCD’s function.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 26, 2024
Adaptive Reuse Scorecard released to help developers assess project viability
Lamar Johnson Collaborative announced the debut of the firm’s Adaptive Reuse Scorecard, a proprietary methodology to quickly analyze the viability of converting buildings to other uses.
Green | Mar 25, 2024
Zero-carbon multifamily development designed for transactive energy
Living EmPower House, which is set to be the first zero-carbon, replicable, and equitable multifamily development designed for transactive energy, recently was awarded a $9 million Next EPIC Grant Construction Loan from the State of California.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 21, 2024
Massachusetts launches program to spur office-to-residential conversions statewide
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey recently launched a program to help cities across the state identify underused office buildings that are best suited for residential conversions.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 19, 2024
Jim Chapman Construction Group completes its second college town BTR community
JCCG's 200-unit Cottages at Lexington, in Athens, Ga., is fully leased.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 19, 2024
Two senior housing properties renovated with 608 replacement windows
Renovation of the two properties, with 200 apartments for seniors, was financed through a special public/private arrangement.
MFPRO+ New Projects | Mar 18, 2024
Luxury apartments in New York restore and renovate a century-old residential building
COOKFOX Architects has completed a luxury apartment building at 378 West End Avenue in New York City. The project restored and renovated the original residence built in 1915, while extending a new structure east on West 78th Street.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2024
YWCA building in Boston’s Back Bay converted into 210 affordable rental apartments
Renovation of YWCA at 140 Clarendon Street will serve 111 previously unhoused families and individuals.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 15, 2024
San Francisco voters approve tax break for office-to-residential conversions
San Francisco voters recently approved a ballot measure to offer tax breaks to developers who convert commercial buildings to residential use. The tax break applies to conversions of up to 5 million sf of commercial space through 2030.