NORTHAMPTON, MA— Live Give Play (LGP), a lifestyle-focused real estate developer, and Spiritos Properties, a mass timber focused developer, have announced plans for 79 King Street, their first rental building for adults aged 55 and older.
Located in vibrant Northampton, Mass., in a downtown area rich in arts and culture, the trailside setting is walkable to Smith College, transportation options, and outdoor activities in nature.
The team has also revealed detailed views of its innovative design for the five-story, 110,000-square-foot 79 King Street, planned to open in late 2024. The companies announced they have received a key zoning permit and preliminary design approvals for the highly sustainable building, which will be constructed using cutting-edge mass timber technology and energy-saving Passive House standards.
With a mission to “transform how older Americans live, with new buildings in walkable, connected communities”, Live Give Play has conceived a residential concept that supports healthy lifestyles (Live), community service (Give), and cultural engagement (Play) — all offered in an environmentally progressive structure and with attainable rents. 79 King Street’s unique concept is based on three premises:
- A market opportunity to serve Baby Boomers who want to live in vibrant, walkable communities but can’t afford prime locations in America’s large cities. (Source: NAR Community Preference Survey)
- A focus on energy-wise buildings and alternate mobility—shared electric cars, bicycling, and walking — crucial to slowing global warming and promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Elevating the purposeful lifestyles and intergenerational communities associated with college towns — a proven improvement over typical age-segregated communities built around golf courses. (Source: RCLCO proprietary market study)
“As people become empty-nesters, more and more are rejecting car-dependent, disconnected settings in homes that represent a large percentage of their net worth,” says David Fox, CEO of Live Give Play. “By offering rentals in dynamic college communities, we are providing more affordable and improved lifestyles.”
The Live Give Play rental model eliminates property taxes and home maintenance expenses as it reduces transportation and energy costs — all while “encouraging community involvement and a sense of purpose,” adds Fox, who has been active in real estate ventures since 2002. Quality, Sustainability & Price Designed by BKSK Architects, 79 King Street defines quality, sustainability, and attainability. Employing a mass timber structure of sustainably sourced wood and designed to Passive House standards that slash heating and cooling costs, the market rental property will feature rooftop solar panels and an exceptionally airtight building envelope.
“We are committed to delivering a building that showcases best practices for the construction industry, which has struggled to meet the moment of impending climate crisis,” says Jeff Spiritos of Spiritos Properties, the developing partner devoted to mass timber development construction for over seven years. “By building to a carbon-negative, net-zero ready design, we’re proving how mass timber construction and Passive House certified standards are not only viable options for all multistory buildings including rental housing, but they are also its future.”
79 King Street residents will live in a small, historical city while staying connected to nature. Inside, the building’s timber structure is partially exposed to reveal warm wood columns, beams and ceilings, providing a key part of the interior aesthetic — and reducing the use of paints and artificial materials. The 70-unit building’s site stands by the heart of downtown Northampton’s eclectic food, shopping, and cultural scene, less than a half-mile stroll to the Amtrak station and to Smith College’s campus. Out the rear door is the 11-mile Norwottuck Rail Trail, accessible to bikers, skaters, and walkers, and nearby nature outings for birdwatching or fresh air include Connecticut River Greenway State Park and the Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, respectively 1.5 miles and 3 miles from 79 King Street.
Amenities designed into 79 King Street include a shared rooftop garden for tenants, electric vehicle (EV) charging, bike storage, and a shared electric car program. On the second floor, tenants can enjoy a spacious fitness room and multipurpose community room and lounge. Retail spaces on the ground level will be programmed to serve bicycling enthusiasts taking advantage of the adjacent trailhead.
79 King Street offers studio to three-bedroom apartments, and is slated to break ground in early spring 2023, with occupancy expected by late 2024.
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