The new 140 Clarendon Street apartments in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, designed by Cambridge-based architecture firm PCA, provide permanent affordable housing with 210 new studio and one-bedroom apartments and a mix of community and amenity spaces. The conversion design doubles the number of apartments in the 1929 building while keeping several existing cultural and educational tenants in the multi-use building.
Developed by Beacon Communities in collaboration with The Mount Vernon Company, 140 Clarendon reimagines the Back Bay’s 13-story former YWCA. Dubbed “The Miracle on Clarendon” by the Boston Globe, the ambitious project arose from a collaborative effort by a team of development partners, architects, builders, funders, and neighbors. The property is managed by Beacon Residential Management. Pine Street Inn provides services for the 111 households who have experienced homelessness under the national Housing First model.
“The success of 140 Clarendon Street provides an inspired example of how public and private partners can collaborate behind a shared vision and solve seemingly insurmountable challenges,” said Darcy Jameson, Vice President of Development for Beacon Communities.
MEETING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE TENANT MIX
Of the 210 apartments, 111 are designated for residents transitioning from unhoused to permanent housing. The remaining 99 affordable apartments are reserved for income-eligible households.
One major concern for the design team was reconfiguring the former hotel floor plates to meet the space needs and program essentials for a diverse mix of occupants. For example, the former YWCA floor plates had no kitchens, whereas all the new units required kitchens.
Nidhi John, AIA, a Principal with PCA and lead architect for the project, said, “Moving the project through its design and construction phases as quickly as we did reinforced the commitment of all our stakeholders to creating urgently needed housing for the most vulnerable among us.”
SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED BY PINE STREET INN
Pine Street Inn staff provides social and supportive services for the 111 residents transitioning to permanent housing. This nationally renowned nonprofit partners with people experiencing homelessness to help them move from the streets and shelters to permanent supported housing with wrap-around case management services.
“PCA’s work on 140 Clarendon Street is informed by their deep understanding of how to create affordable housing that meets a wide range of occupant needs,” said Jan Griffin, Vice President of Housing for Pine Street Inn. “The design provides a welcoming, accessible, and supportive experience in the building's individual apartments and community spaces. It supports our program goals and helps our residents thrive as they transition to permanent housing.”
TENANTS REMAINED IN PLACE DURING CONSTRUCTION
140 Clarendon’s existing residents and tenants remained in the building throughout construction, a challenge that necessitated a complex phasing of the renovation work. These tenants include individual residents, and the YWCA (the original building owner, which called 140 Clarendon home for almost a century), The Lyric Stage Company, the City of Boston Snowden International School, and Viga Eatery.
“We hear a lot from tenants and visitors about how the building is distinctive, and not at all institutional in its look and feel,” said PCA’s John. “From the lobby to the comfortable lounges on each floor, to the unique design and layout of each apartment, the occupant experience is warm and welcoming throughout. That is what we were aiming to achieve – a strong sense of home and belonging for everyone.”
140 CLARENDON BUILDING TEAM
Developers: Beacon Communities, The Mount Vernon Company
Owner’s project management: WaypointKLA
Architect: PCA
Interiors: PCA & Beacon Concepts
Structural engineer: Odeh Engineers
Civil engineer: Nitsch Engineering
MEP/FP engineer: Petersen Engineering
Exterior envelope: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Historic consultant: Ryan LLC
Construction manager:: NEI General Contracting
ABOUT PCA
Founded in 1982, PCA is one of New England's most creative and innovative design firms. With expertise in architecture, planning, and interior design, PCA teams provide thoughtful, award-winning designs for hospitality, housing, retail, higher education, and mixed-use clients — making places that thrive in the marketplace and bring lasting value to the community.
ABOUT BEACON COMMUNITIES LLC
Beacon Communities LLC is a privately owned real estate firm that develops, acquires, invests in, and manages a wide range of multifamily housing, including affordable, market-rate, and mixed income-housing, from new construction to historic adaptive reuse, to the renovation of existing housing.
ABOUT PINE STREET INN
Pine Street Inn partners with homeless individuals to help them move from the streets and shelter to a home and assists formerly homeless individuals in retaining housing. Pine Street Inn provides street outreach, emergency services, supportive housing, job training, and connections to employment.
ABOUT THE MOUNT VERNON COMPANY
The Mount Vernon Company, a real estate investment company founded by Bruce A. Percelay, has grown over the past 30 years to include 1,600 apartments, five hotels, and select commercial and vacation properties. Mount Vernon Company received the Community Excellence Award from the Rental Housing Association of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, the Paragon Award for Industry Excellence by the National Apartment Association, and the Best Landlord in Boston recognition by Boston Magazine.
Related Stories
| Apr 19, 2012
KTGY Group’s Arista Uptown Apartments in Broomfield, Colo. completed
First of eight buildings highlights unique amenities.
| Apr 6, 2012
Batson-Cook breaks ground on hotel adjacent to Infantry Museum & Fort Benning
The four-story, 65,000-ft property will feature 102 hotel rooms, including 14 studio suites.
| Mar 27, 2012
Precast concrete used for affordable, sustainable housing in New York
Largest affordable housing development in the nation will provide housing for close to 500,000 people.
| Mar 19, 2012
Mixed-use project redefines Midtown District in Plantation, Fla.
Stiles Construction is building the residential complex, which is one of Broward County’s first multifamily rental communities designed to achieve LEED certification from the USGBC.
| Mar 6, 2012
Country’s first Green House home for veterans completed
Residences at VA Danville to provide community-centered housing for military veterans.
| Mar 1, 2012
Reconstruction of L.A.’s Dunbar Hotel underway
Withee Malcolm Architects’ designs for the project include the complete renovation of the Dunbar Hotel and the Somerville Apartments I and II.
| Feb 15, 2012
NAHB sees gradual improvement in multifamily sales for boomers
However, since the conditions of the current overall housing market are limiting their ability to sell their existing homes, this market is not recovering as quickly as might have been expected.
| Feb 10, 2012
Atlanta Housing Authority taps Johnson Controls to improve public housing efficiency
Energy-efficiency program to improve 13 senior residential care facilities and save nearly $18 million.
| Feb 8, 2012
Nauset completes addition and renovation for Winchester senior living community
Theater, library, fitness center, and bistro enhance facility.
| Jan 3, 2012
Rental Renaissance, The Rebirth of the Apartment Market
Across much of the U.S., apartment rents are rising, vacancy rates are falling. In just about every major urban area, new multifamily rental projects and major renovations are coming online. It may be too soon to pronounce the rental market fully recovered, but the trend is promising.
