On Wednesday, May 10, 2017, Preservation Massachusetts celebrated projects that embody the Power of Preservation at their Annual Paul Tsongas Awards Dinner. Onota 74, a historic building in downtown Pittsfield redeveloped and renovated by DBVW Architects and Allegrone Companies, won in the Best Use - Housing category.
The Onota project, widely regarded as a key player in reviving a city jaded by a declining population, met the untapped demand for market-rate apartments and brought a mix of young professionals, new families, and retired couples to make downtown their full-time home. With a mix of retail and residential uses, a high level of sustainable design, and a central downtown location; this project offers a unique live-work-shop choice that appeals to a broad demographic.
With unanimous support from the Pittsfield Community Development Board, the City of Pittsfield Mayor’s office and the critical Massachusetts public sector funding programs, Allegrone Real Estate was able to take a leap of faith for this adaptive reuse project. Along with DBVW Architects, they converted the underutilized building into 25 market-rate apartments and 8,000 square feet of storefront retail. The project utilized approximately $3.1 million dollars in State and Federal Historic Tax Credits and $800,000 in Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) Tax Credits from The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. The total Developmental Cost is approximately $10 million dollars.
Photo Credit: Albie Colantonio Photography for Preservation Massachusetts
