Senior Life: Former nursing home to become residential development

The slide of S. Huntington Avenue from an institutional lane to that of a residential area continued on March 17, as the Boston Redevelopment Authority board approved the $62 million renovation and expansion project at the former Goddard House nursing home site at 201 S. Huntington Ave.

The project, which is expected to generate 123 construction jobs, involves the rehabilitation, expansion, and adaptive re-use of the former Goddard House nursing home, transforming it into a multi-family residence to include 167 rental apartments. Of the 167 apartments, 22 units are slated to be affordable. That is the bare minimum under the City’s affordable-housing policy.

Some members of the Goddard House impact advisory group (IAG) pushed for more affordable housing for the project, but the BRA is comfortable with the number of affordable-housing units that the developers are offering. An IAG is a City-appointed group of residents and other stakeholders that advise the City on potential impacts of building projects.

The project also came under fire from the Boston Residential Group (BRG), which owns Olmsted Place at 161 S. Huntington Ave. Olmsted Place abuts the Goddard House property. Curtis Kemeny, CEO and president of BRG, wrote a letter to the BRA about concerns with the Goddard House proposal, including height, density, and traffic.

The renovated and expanded Goddard House would hold 110 units, while a free-standing building would be built creating the remaining 57 units.

When facing the Goddard House property from S. Huntington Avenue, the new building would be built on the left side. One addition would be built behind the current Goddard House building, while the other addition would be built to the front right.

Additions to the Goddard House would be four stories tall, while the new building height would vary from four to six stories.

The preservation of the Goddard House building is defined as an “exceptional public benefit,” according to the S. Huntington Avenue corridor study conducted by the BRA in 2013.

The Goddard House controversially ceased operations on Sept. 8, 2012 and has remained vacant ever since. The enormous brick building was constructed in 1927 and housed about 100 seniors.

The developers, Eden Properties and Samuels & Associates, had filed their letter of intent last year.

The project is anticipated to begin construction in summer 2016. For more information, visit bit.ly/1l01M2J.

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