C-Town Ventures Named Developer for Charlestown Armory

The City of Boston has granted tentative developer designation to C-Town Ventures for a proposed $22 million residential redevelopment of the former Charlestown Armory on Bunker Hill Street in Charlestown. But it will take a year before actual construction begins to take place.

The city's Department of Neighborhood Development staff made the formal recommendation to the City’s Public Facilities Commission at a meeting this week. 

The tentative designation approval triggers a 12-month period during which C-Town Ventures will continue to work with the City to finalize the design, apply for permits and secure funding.  

Following the year-long process, the Public Facilities Commission will vote to convey the property to the developer, at which point DND will close the sale of the property, and the developer will begin construction.

C-Town Ventures plans to renovate the 46,530 square-foot Georgian Revival structure into 40 new units of housing. The redevelopment will be LEED Silver Certifiable and will incorporate green building technology to help conserve energy and reduce operating costs. 

The conservation elements include a partial green roof, the replacement of all exterior windows, and a heating and cooling system with programmable thermostats. 

The developer’s plans also call for two parking spaces per unit and include the maintenance of all the historic elements of the building, including restoration of the partial mansard slate roof.

Built in 1907, the Armory provided drill space for four local military companies. In 1968, the state deeded the Armory to the Trustees of the Boston Public Library, which used the armory as a book depository, most recently housing the Jordan Collection, the largest collection of children’s books in the world. 

The Trustees of the Boston Public Library transferred the property to the City’s Department of Neighborhood Development in the spring of 2010, and, following an extensive community process, DND issued a Request for Proposals seeking proposals to redevelop the vacant parcel.  

On September 11, 2013, neighborhood residents gave feedback on three proposals, with C-Town Ventures’ proposal receiving the highest ranking.