Adaptive reuse project will transform former convent into 36 affordable senior apartments
BOSTON— Kaplan Construction has begun construction on McDevitt Senior Homes, a $15.7 million adaptive reuse project that will transform the former St. Augustine’s Convent and Paraclete Center at 207 E Street in South Boston into affordable housing for seniors.
The 31,000-square-foot project, being developed for the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation (South Boston NDC), will create 35 affordable apartments for seniors, along with one manager’s unit and shared resident spaces.
The five-story existing building will undergo a full interior renovation and exterior restoration, while a new addition will be constructed at the rear of the property. Planned amenities include a first-floor lobby and mail room, a second-floor sitting room, and shared laundry and lounge space on the fifth floor.
Originally constructed as a convent and later used by the Paraclete Center, the property has long played a role in the South Boston community. The renovation is designed to preserve the building’s historic character while giving it a new purpose as affordable senior housing.
The project will retain several defining elements of the existing property, including its front yard, entrance way and fifth-floor solarium.
“For generations, the former St. Augustine’s Convent was a place of community and service,” said Donna Brown, executive director of South Boston NDC. “McDevitt Senior Homes allows us to honor that legacy by giving the building a new purpose – providing affordable homes for seniors who want to remain in South Boston. We’re grateful to Kaplan Construction and our project partners for helping us repurpose this neighborhood landmark for the community.”
Significant structural work will be undertaken to strengthen the existing building and connect it with the new addition. New steel and wood bracing will reinforce the structure, while exterior restoration work will help maintain the property’s existing appearance.
Because the original building is being completely gutted and renovated, the project team will evaluate conditions revealed during demolition and make design and construction adjustments as necessary to address unforeseen existing conditions.
The project received $5.145 million in support from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and the Community Preservation Fund, along with $850,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.
Construction began in July, with an official groundbreaking held August 20. The event brought together representatives from the Mayor’s Office of Housing, South Boston NDC, Age Strong, elected officials, community partners and local residents to celebrate the project.
Construction is being carried out under Boston Residents Jobs Policy and Section 3 labor requirements. The project also includes subcontracting participation goals of 30% for minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs) and 10% for women-owned business enterprises (WBEs).
The McDevitt Senior Homes project team includes South Boston NDC as owner; Jonathan Lavash Project Management as owner’s representative; Kaplan Construction as construction manager; ICON Architecture as architect; Simpson Gumpertz & Heger as structural engineer; Wozny/Barber & Associates as MEP/FP engineer; Joyce Consulting Group as civil engineer; RBLA Design as landscape architect; and Haley & Aldrich, Inc. as geotechnical engineer.
Once complete, McDevitt Senior Homes will provide much-needed affordable housing for older adults while preserving and reinvesting in a longstanding South Boston landmark. The project will bring new life to the former convent while helping seniors remain connected to the neighborhood and community they call home.
