A new future for a town’s past
Developer plans to restore old Whitman shoe factory as housing
Whitman is a small town with a rich history, but because it has neither a historic district nor any protective bylaw to check demolition of significant buildings, much of the physical evidence of that past is long gone.
Now comes a Quincy developer who says he wants to help stop that slide.
Crowned by its distinctive twin turrets that stretch 90 feet into the sky, the sprawling mill has long been a presence downtown. At the dawn of the 20th century, a large segment of the local population reported there for work each day, or to the nail, tack, or other factories that had set up shop nearby in the bustling blue-collar town.
But the machinery went silent in the 1960s when Commonwealth Shoe, known for its signature Bostonian line, closed the plant. Little has been done with the complex since.
Kiley, who said he has pockets deep enough to handle this ambitious building project, bought the complex for $2 million a year ago and now has the permits in hand to start construction. He has promised to restore the factory’s exterior, working within federal historic guidelines, so that he can eventually submit the renovated building for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Eventually the landmark structure will house 127 luxury loft-style one- and two-bedroom apartments and 30,000 square feet of first-floor commercial space, he said.
“It will probably give the effect of a Christmas card,’’ Kiley said. He said he expects the project to cost about $17 million, noting that historic renovation is generally more costly than building anew.
Kiley said he “kind of beat the economy’’ with another factory redevelopment project that he recently completed in Rockland, since his loans were in place before the economy really sank, and now has the resources to devote to Whitman. Financing is much harder to secure these days, he said.
“It’s taking everything I’ve got to do this,’’ he said. “Luckily, I have my own equipment and a fair-sized workforce.’’
Kiley is tearing off the mill complex’s old asbestos siding, which was added years after the structure went up, to reveal the original architectural detail, including some 1,800 large windows beneath.
“We’re all pretty pleased he’s keeping the integrity of the buildings,’’ said Whitman Historical Commission member June Leary.
“We’ve got historic pictures to work from,’’ Kiley said. “All the windows had originally been there to bring in light. Each of the apartments will have 10 windows or more.’’
The complex, which will have a heated indoor pool and a gym, will be named after its address, Seven Marble Street. The two-bedroom apartments will rent for about $1,300 per month, according to Kiley.
Aside from Kiley’s project, Whitman’s lack of protection for its historic buildings has been disappointing to local history buffs.
“The town doesn’t have many historic buildings left, so we’re really grateful this man is doing this project,’’ said Elizabeth Pretorius of the Whitman Historical Commission.
The 252,000-square-foot complex, which is split into two buildings connected by a two-story crossover, spans Marble Street and was most recently owned by John Campbell, owner of Harry B. Harding & Son printing company and president of the Whitman Historical Society.
Campbell housed his company in the complex and rented some of the space to other businesses. He had set up a historical museum in the factory, where many artifacts from the town’s industrial past are on exhibit. A large part of the factory complex, however, remained vacant.
“This is one of the biggest projects Whitman has ever had,’’ Campbell said of Kiley’s plan. “I think this is a perfect use for the buildings. They’ve outlived their manufacturing ability.’’
Whitman building inspector Robert Curran said it wasn’t difficult for Kiley to secure permits in light of what he has promised to deliver. All the fire protection systems in the building will be upgraded, he said, and fire walls will be installed in the old timber-framed structure.
“The building is going to become safer because of this project,’’ Curran said.
Kiley says the east side of the complex, comprising a three-story building, will be ready to rent by next spring. That building will contain about three dozen apartments, with commercial space on the first floor. Then work will commence to restore the four-story west building, which will be completely residential.
Brian McNiff, spokesman for the Massachusetts Historical Commission, said the state panel encourages projects such as Kiley’s to save significant old buildings.
“It preserves historic buildings that might otherwise vanish. It also extends the lives of these buildings if they are in use, and often puts them back on the tax rolls,’’ he said.
McNiff said the Whitman Historical Commission can offer Kiley some guidance when he’s ready to submit his application to the National Register. The state commission would also offer its help, he said.
Christine Legere can be reached at christinelegere@yahoo.com. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
