News Flash: Apartments in Building 33

A developer has requested to change the usage of Building 33 from office to residential space. Terry Conroy Jr., president of Conroy Development Company, believes that using the building for rental apartments is the highest and best use.

At the Sept 19 meeting of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council (CNC) Development Committee Conroy advocated for the rental venture that would convert the 47,500-square-foot, three story brick building into 49 apartments at a tune of five million dollars. The Building 33 project would entail, Conroy says, exterior improvements including pointing and the roof. An effort would be made to preserve exposed bricks and wood beams inside the building. The building would host 14 small one bedrooms that would rent for around $2,000 a month. There would be 25 larger one-bedrooms renting for $2800 a month. Finally, 10 two-bedroom penthouses which would fetch $3400 a month.

The CNC expressed concerns about the building becoming marketed for condos, trash removal logistics, and parking issues. Conroy addressed all the concerns siting that the building would not be marketed as condos, gave his plans for trash removal and explained he was in negotiations with Massachusetts General Hospital to secure 50 parking spaces. He is anticipating too, that many tenants would commute to work via the City Water Taxi that departs from Pier 8 in the Navy Yard.

The approval or rejection for this building will come from the Boston Redevelopment Authority sometime in October or November. The CNC Development Committee voted to approve the proposal and recommended its ratification at the October 2nd CNC meeting. The BRA is accepting public comments on the project until October 12. Correspondence can be sent to Geoff Lewis, Boston Redevelopment Authority, One City Hall Square, Boston, Ma 02201-1007