By Eva Erlich, vice president
On Saturday, September 23, hundreds of residents and neighbors of the Northampton Square Campus, which bridges the Lower Roxbury and South End communities, joined together for a community block party to celebrate the newly renovated 35@EightSixty. With Northampton Street blocked off to car traffic for the day, community members, families and children of all ages enjoyed music, dancing, live art from Artists for Humanity and other artists, games and free food.
The Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Medical Center, and Hope House were also on-hand, providing information and resources for members of the community.
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh was among the crowd of community members who attended the block party, stopping to talk with residents and neighbors and learn more about the renovation work done at 35@EightSixty.
Built between 1969 and 1973 to house the Boston City Hospital School of Nursing, the City of Boston and Boston Public Health Commission procured our team in 2010 to modernize components of the Campus that were in desperate need of capital repairs.
The residential apartments at the Campus were suffering from decades of deferred maintenance, and the physical condition was jeopardizing the ability to continue providing this important housing resource in this neighborhood. Renovations to the two towers, which began in 2013 and completed in 2016, included upgraded kitchens, renovated bathrooms, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and energy efficient windows with new blinds in all units – and all of this work was completed while residents continued to live in their apartments.
[From left to right: before & after]
The modernization project also included new mechanical and electrical systems, façade repairs and improvements, a new roof, elevator upgrades, new laundry rooms, and improved security systems. As a part of our work at this development, the 347 apartments in the two residential towers, 35 Northampton and 860 Harrison, are now deed-restricted affordable apartments.
It was a beautiful day surrounded by our friends and the community at 35@EightSixty.
