34 East Springfield Street, located in Boston’s South End neighborhood, originally built in 1865, has a rich history, transitioning from a single-family residence to multi-family houses over decades. After years of neglect, the building was left vacant for 11 years. Recently, it was meticulously restored and redeveloped into five affordable housing apartments for veterans. The project is a Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award recipient.
Overview
35 East Springfield Street, built in 1865, has a storied history, beginning as the home of William Pierson, a boot and shoe dealer, and his family. Over the years, the building transitioned from a single-family residence to multi-family housing, accommodating multiple families by 1930. In 1973, the building, along with its surrounding neighborhood, was designated as part of the South End District on the National Register of Historic Places. Acquired by the Boston Housing Authority in 1980, the building was converted into four units of affordable housing but eventually became uninhabitable and sat vacant for 11 years.
The recent restoration of 34 East Springfield Street involved the process of removing and reconstructing the entire façade brick by brick to ensure safety and preserve its historical integrity. Now energy-efficient systems have been installed, and the building’s layout was updated, including the creation of two new top-floor units with a dormer. Exterior restoration efforts included the installation of new 2/2 windows that replicated the original muntin pattern, the addition of a new entry hood based on a neighboring building’s design, and the use of matching lintels and bricks to maintain its historical look. Inside, surviving historic features like the double-leaf entry doors and winder stairs were carefully restored, while the garden-level unit was converted into an accessible apartment with dedicated parking.
Contribution
Epsilon’s team of historic preservation professionals prepared State and Federal historic tax credit applications for the project.
Achievement
This project received a Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award from Preservation Massachusetts. The project helped to revitalize this historic building that had been vacant for 11-years and transform it into affordable housing for veterans but also stands as a shining example of adaptive reuse in historic preservation, breathing new life into the neighborhood.