Sights from the site: October

Some progress images from around the site on a rainy October Wednesday:

When seen from above, every building foundation (22) is complete, with vertical construction underway on eight buildings that contain well over half of the development’s apartments.  Townhouse framing progresses rapidly, with two buildings already under roof.

A midrise at Western Ave & Litchfield St is furthest along, with exterior windows, brick and stone in place.  Future retail bays can be seen at street level.

Inside the buildings, drywall and insulation now clearly show the ample light and living areas in the apartment units.

School Days

Students from HBS gathered across from the construction site

Yesterday, Harvard Business School students visited the new Charlesview construction site as part of their Real Property course taught by Housing expert Arthur Segel.  The students enjoyed a tour of the construction site, learned about the site plan and urban planning principles shaping the development, heard the story of how the deal came about, and walked through the basics of the development’s finances.

The mixed-finance, mixed-income, mixed-use development taking shape at Charlesview is in many ways more complex than a typical real estate development.  It provided a fantastic opportunity for bright young leaders at the global institution to engage with and learn from this exciting development taking place right in their own neighborhood.

We hope to have next year’s class back to see a finished rental development and a new phase of townhomes under construction.

Building Exterior Progress on Western Ave

Coming down Western Ave, the finished appearance of the Western Ave face of the new Charlesview is taking shape. On D1, masonry and many of the windows are in place. On the larger E1 building, sheathing and waterproofing is on, showing the building’s pattern of windows and bays. The team is focusing on the uses and occupants of the retail and community spaces on the ground floor. Click any image to enlarge.

Completed brick portion of the D1 building, with metal panel and glazing to come

Looking south from Western down the future Antwerp St

Close view of D1 elevations

D1 building from down Western Ave

Behind the building facades, the interiors of the two midrise buildings are rapidly progressing. Unit framing, drywall, tubs and mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems are all in progress.

Happy Labor Day

Each day, over 150 laborers, carpenters, electricians, sheet metal workers, masons, roofers, pipefitters and other tradespeople go to work building the new Charlesview and transforming Western Ave into the new vibrant, mixed use heart of North Brighton.  On behalf of the The Community Builders, Inc., Charlesview, Inc. and our redevelopment partners, we wish them – and you - and happy, safe and restful Labor Day weekend.

Upcoming Construction Activities

May

• Mid-rise D1.  Back punching to complete units.
• Mid-rise E1.  Punch listing to complete, and back punch to begin.
• Townhouses. C-block to move to completion. Siding and interior work on A-block to near completion. Framing, window installation, roofing and interior work to continue through B-block.  D-block framing underway, and interior work to begin in D3.
• E2 building. Masonry and siding to finish.  Drywall to complete inside.
• Curbs, sidewalks, landscaping and other site work

June

• C-block and A-block townhomes to be punch listed.
• Building E2 interior finishes to be completed and units punchlisted.
• Interior finishes to move through B-block townhomes.
• Framing to complete on D-block townhomes.
• Curbs, sidewalks, landscaping and other site work to be completed.
• Ribbon Cutting June 21st
• Move ins to commence June 24th

Townhouse Framing Begins

Truckloads of prefabricated wall panels and floor trusses began arriving on site this week, as the townhouses wrap up foundations and begin framing.  Within months the site’s 22 buildings will be recognizable in form.  Meanwhile, the two largest buildings progress on the outside, with framing and sheathing, and the inside, with unit framing and interior plumbing and electrical.  See below for progress around the site!

The first townhouse wall panels are placed.

Looking north along what will be the extension of Antwerp St to Western Ave.

Waterproofing over the sheathing before brickwork starts.

Unit framing and plumbing fixtures are progressing rapidly.

Framing in place for a bedroom along Western Ave

A fourth floor apartment view

The garage concrete and systems work is nearly complete

Looking down the garage entrance ramp

Mixed Use Comes to Western Ave

The new face of Western Ave is emerging, with apartments, commercial and community uses in a vibrant new mix. In the background of construction, leasing of the retail spaces at the new Charlesview has kicked into high gear. As part of the development, up to eight new businesses will line Western, providing restaurant, cafe, entertainment, convenience or other uses, providing new retail options in Allston-Brighton and enlivening the street level.

Spaces are available ranging from 741 to 4345 square feet for potential retailers. Interested tenents should call the retail broker, the Dartmouth Company, at (617) 262-6620.

Building Exterior Progressing

Metal framing and sheathing show the D1 building's form clearly

Following the topping out ceremony for structural steel, the exterior “skin” of light gauge framing, sheathing, and cladding on the other Western Ave building has progressed rapidly.  The full form and pattern of openings will soon be apparent.  Inside the building, plumbers, electricians, and mechanical engineers are hanging conduit and ducts.

Abutters should note that today, a crane will need to close a lane of Western Ave.  The builder has scheduled all the rooftop equipment to be hoisted up in a single day to minimize disruption to Western.

Topping Off

The beam is lowered into place and connected by ironworkers

Another major milestone has been reached in the construction of the new Charlesview, with tradespeople gathered for the ironworkers’ Topping Off and a bbq lunch.  With beautiful weather, ample progress all over the site, and a construction workforce of over 120, it was a festive afternoon at the jobsite.

The tradition has a folk history dating back centuries, is a symbolic moment in construction, when the highest piece of structure is hoisted into place.  The ironworkers will move quickly to finish the final steel structure.  Congrats to the construction team and especially Ironworkers Local 7 for the amazing progress.

With structural steel in place, space has been cleared on site to mobilize many other trades.   Soon framers, masons, electricians, plumbers, glaziers and other trades will be swarming all corners of the site.

More photos from the ceremony after the jump.

What a Difference a Year Makes

It’s been exactly one year since the formal start of construction, and the site has gone through a dramatic transformation as we’ve moved through demolition, excavation, foundations and steel.  The vision of a dynamic, mixed use Charlesview in north Brighton becomes clearer every day.

Click image to enlarge.