Redevelopment initiatives frequently feature attractive branding and ambitious architectural renderings that never come to fruition. Planners and designers with genuine aspirations often rebrand neighborhoods and propose structures and community features that ultimately fail to materialize. Yet this pattern has not held true for Gerrish Avenue, now designated as the heart of Chelsea’s emerging Box District. Positioned near downtown Chelsea, within walking distance of City Hall and the Library, Gerrish Avenue carries a troubled recent history. The street’s limited activity was predominantly criminal in nature. Prior to this period, the area functioned as an industrial hub dominated by box manufacturing operations, including Standard Box, the Russell Box Factory, Janus Welding and Fabricating, Atlas Bedding and the Specialty Automated Machine Company. The newly branded Box District is now fulfilling its promising name. Previously theoretical initiatives have transformed into concrete developments featuring market-rate lofts and apartments alongside affordable rental and homeownership options, creating a revitalized neighborhood from what was once a blighted area. The district now boasts expansive loft residences, an upcoming park, and seasonal sidewalk concerts featuring live music—all revitalizing a once-abandoned location. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will evaluate approval of the final two development components on July 13th—approximately 74 market-rate townhomes at 28 and 44 Gerrish Ave. “It’s really exciting and I think what really inspires us is that from our community engagement and residential assessments…we now see residents getting to know their neighbors in this new neighborhood and they have become interested in and passionate about their neighborhood,” explained Emily Loomis of Chelsea Neighborhood Developers (CND), the central organization driving the project and facilitating extensive community planning sessions prior to construction. “Our director, Ann Houston, has had a very strong vision all along for Chelsea and the Box District in particular.” The project’s achievements stem largely from a collaborative public, private, and non-profit framework. CND has spearheaded affordable housing initiatives, while Mitchell Properties of Boston has developed market-rate components. City Manager Jay Ash and municipal leadership have supported the effort through planning assistance, zoning modifications, and funding for amenities including a new park at Gerrish and Highland Streets. “It’s worked well because we all share the vision of the Box District and think that great neighborhoods should have a mix of incomes in them,” Loomis noted. “Our expertise is affordable housing…We’re great at developing affordable housing and doing community engagement. We also wanted that market rate neighborhood in the mix and that’s where Mitchell Properties comes in. Atlas Lofts is mostly a market rate project…I would say a good part of our success comes from that partnership between Chelsea Neighborhood Developers, the city and Mitchell.” The redevelopment currently stands at a pivotal stage, with completed work visible and additional phases advancing. The 53-unit Atlas Lofts market-rate project nears completion at Gerrish Avenue’s terminus. Developer Mitchell Properties is already leasing units and expects full completion by summer’s end. CND has already delivered 41 affordable rental units across three Gerrish Avenue locations through the Janus Highland Apartments project. These units are occupied and operational. Additionally, CND completed 26 homeownership opportunities on Library Street, replacing the former Spring Air Mattress Factory site. The Box Works Homes project integrates affordable and market-rate townhouses on a concentrated parcel at the district’s edge. According to Loomis, the project maintains strong sales momentum despite the sluggish real estate market. “We have sold almost all of the units, which is a really great achievement for this market right now,” she stated. “We’re seeing a number of people who work or already live in Chelsea and we also have people coming from Malden, Somerville and Dorchester. We even have one family from Utah that moved to Chelsea to live in the Box District.” Of the 26 units, one affordable unit and two market-rate units remain available, with prices ranging from $170,000 to $219,000. Many development components are already operational, with final pieces positioned to complete the vision. CND has secured permits for 32 additional affordable rental units at 55 Gerrish Ave., where an existing industrial structure will be demolished for the Highland Terrace Apartments. “We’re hoping to start construction in spring 2011,” Loomis stated. “We received financing from a variety of different public and private sources. We are going through these financial applications, which will really drive our timeline on the project.” The ZBA is currently considering what may represent the Box District’s crowning achievement, located on the Standard Box parcels near the Family Dollar building and developed by Mitchell Properties. “The master plan for the Standard Box parcels – the fifth project to proceed – proposes a vibrant pedestrian-friendly and human scaled addition to the Box District,” the company’s submission to the city indicated. “These new homes will replace what is currently a mix of vacant buildings and vacant lots that at one time were the home to long-time Chelsea manufacturing companies.” The initial phase at 44 Gerrish Ave., where the Standard Box building remains standing, will unfold in two stages. Beginning spring 2011, the developer plans three buildings on the site. The completed 44 Gerrish Ave. development will comprise 44 predominantly market-rate units, incorporating portions of the existing structure into new street-facing townhomes designed to foster neighborhood character. “A two-story portion of the existing brick industrial building is proposed for adaptive re-use as three, 2-bedroom townhomes,” the filing stated. “While the majority of the existing building scheduled for demolition is non-descript, the 2-story portion proposed for re-use is a charming, human-scaled building that, along with Atlas Lofts, provides a reminder of the area’s industrial past while contributing to the diverse and special characteristics of the new Box District neighborhood.” A significant advantage involves underground garage parking for most spaces. Developers report that 69 percent of parking is covered, with 33 percent in private garages. The 28 Gerrish Ave. parcels represent a longer-term initiative, with 30 units potentially commencing in fall 2012 or 2013. Multiple buildings will occupy this parcel, and together both sites will feature a central courtyard and eventual connection to the proposed urban ring project along the adjacent rail corridor. Securing funding remains essential for completing the final Box District components—a challenge the project has successfully navigated despite unprecedented credit market conditions. “One advantage we’ve had is because our work is focused on having a conceptual, involved strategy,” Loomis remarked. “By bringing life to this one district, you leverage what you can do. The projects start to build off each other. Funders have been really receptive to this vision. When they look at the Box District and see what we’ve done already, they are very positive. That has made us competitive for funding. The challenge is funding is extremely limited right now. It can take longer to get things done.” The ZBA hearings for both 28 and 44 Gerrish Ave. are scheduled for Tuesday, July 13th at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Out of the Ashes – Chelsea’s ‘Box District’ the new up-and-coming neighborhood
