New building rising at old 'Faces' nightclub site in Cambridge

A new apartment building is taking shape at the site of the old 'Faces' nightclub in Cambridge. Photo by Brock Parker.

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

Construction of a new apartment building is changing the look of the old Faces discotheque site along Route 2 in Cambridge.

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After a lengthy process of pile driving at the site near the Alewife T Station, Criterion Development Partners has begun the framing work for a portion of its 227-unit building, which is expected to be completed by October of 2013.

“So far so good,” said Jack Englert, a principal of Criterion. “Everything is on schedule.”

Construction began last fall after Criterion Development Partners tore down the dilapidated sign for the Faces nightclub that had been vacant for more than 20 years.

Once a popular discotheque, the nightclub property that had been owned by the Martignetti family had turned into an eyesore that for years greeted commuters entering the city.

But in March the Cambridge Planning Board approved the redevelopment of the property and Criterion Development Partners closed on the purchase of the property in October before demolishing the old building.

Englert said Monday that the first rental units at the “Residences at Alewife” could be available as early as June 2013, with the entire building expected to be completed later in the fall.

--brock.globe@gmail.com