Braintree Approves 44-Unit Housing Complex On Allen Street

BRAINTREE, MA — Braintree has partnered with WinnDevelopment and Arch Communities to turn the former home of the Braintree Electric Light Department into a residential community with a public walkway along the Monatiquot River.

Mayor Charles Kokoros said the project will create 44 housing units at 44 Allen St.

Kokoros also said the project features 54,000 square feet of open space. In addition, the project also extends the Monatiquot Riverwalk with a 20-foot wide walkway linking Allen Street on the east to the Starling Boat Company on the west.

"The redevelopment of this property has been in the works for years and has been vacant since November of 1996," Kokoros said. "I am happy WinnDevelopment and Arch Communities have come up with a proposal to reimagine this property and provide a benefit for our town and our small business community in The Landing."

Some apartments would go in the former plant's switch house, and a new story would be added to the building for additional apartments. The remaining units would go in a new building next to the existing plant.

Every unit would have its own enclosed parking space, with additional parking for tenants and guest outside. Kokoros said residential units will be distributed in a manner designed to preserve views for the Allen Street homes.

Efforts will be made to preserve the facade elements of the administration building and materials from the Pipe Shop, which will be removed due to its location in the flood plain. The Screen Shop will be converted to a small-scale commercial structure to serve as an anchor for the Riverwalk, Kokoros said.

Town officials estimated the project's construction will cost $15.4 million. The developers anticipate closing financing for the project by the end of 2022, with construction starting in early 2023. The project is expected to generate approximately 152 jobs and $12 million of economic activity, according to town officials.

WinnDevelopment, of Boston, and Arch Communities, of Needham, will serve as co-developers. Gamble Associates, of Cambridge, which collaborated with Braintree's Department of Community Development on an impact study for the site, will serve as architect.

"We’re excited to have the opportunity to celebrate Braintree's industrial and shipbuilding history and look forward to working with the community to create a publicly accessible waterfront and transform existing historic buildings into new housing with significant new open space," said WinnDevelopment President Larry Curtis. "We respect and appreciate the extensive community planning process that has led to this point. Those principles will guide us as we finalize the development plan for this historic property."