Empty office to full house: Developers are converting some of Boston's old workplaces into living space
By Susan Diesenhouse , Globe Correspondent, 1/24/2004
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Boston, Government Center - Saltonstall Bldg undergoing rehab and additions. Will reopen this Spring for office space, and added 75 units of housing-including 12 townhouses on Bowdoin St. (Globe photo)
As the office market has weakened over the past few years, many downtown Boston commercial buildings prized for their historic presence have seen their tenants disappear and rental rates decline. But converted into residences, these old offices, warehouses, and factories acquire a new cachet among a broad array of buyers — from young professionals to empty nesters looking for a low-hassle, high-service urban lifestyle. About a dozen commercial stalwarts have recently been converted into housing or were purchased in the past year with conversions planned, said Boston realtor Kevin Ahearn, of Otis & Ahearn Inc.
Every city block filled with new residents and the buzz they generate thrills city officials.
"Some of these buildings haven’t been fully used for years," said Paul McCann, assistant to the director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
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