Chestnut Park Apartments historic preservation
Holyoke, MA
When last tenant of four historic buildings in downtown Holyoke left due to costly repair assessments, the town was devastated. These buildings, sitting in the heart of town, were boarded up, left abandoned, and further deteriorated for 12 long years.
Along came Weld Management and the Holyoke Office of Planning & Economic Development with plans to turn the buildings into housing and restore vitality back into the town’s center. With funding from the Patrick Administration and the National Parks Service, an extensive historic preservation project began, with Western Builders brought in for construction and renovation.
An array of design and construction requirements needed to be met while restoring the 19th century buildings – a former school, rectory, and convent, along with c.1911 Whiting Elementary School. We used a CM delivery method and spent four years in extensive preconstruction assessments. During the renovation, many of the buildings’ original architectural elements were meticulously removed, restored, and retrofitted including doors, wainscoting, and stained-glass windows.
Today, this 73,179 sq ft renovation project has created 54 affordable housing apartments – all fully occupied -- for local residents. Moreover, Western Builders is proud to be part of the project that has enhanced and revitalized this community.
