BRA Approves Shawmut Avenue Project

Developer David Goldman will transform the former Holy Trinity German Church and Rectory in the South End to make way for 33 units of new housing, according to a Boston Redevelopment Authority press statement.

The adaptive reuse and expansion of the church, located at 136 Shawmut Ave., will involve demolition of the existing interior space in order to accommodate a new eight-story building with 28 basement parking spots. The church has been vacant for about five years.

Finegold Alexander Architects’ design attempts to marry modern steel and glass elements while preserving the historic character of the existing structure and exterior masonry. Lighting features will enhance the church’s spire and highlight the classic architecture of the building.

The developer will voluntarily contribute $500,000 to support Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA), a non-profit community-building organization in the South End, in addition to providing $20,000 to the Friends of Peters Park as community benefits.

The total project cost is $47 million and will entail 195 construction jobs and offer nearly 58,000 square feet of space.