Svigals + Partners
Up-and-coming local financial firm Higher One took a significant step closer to moving into its new digs in Science Park as the City Plan Commission Wednesday night approved the site plan review for the first phase of a historic restoration of the former Winchester factory building at Winchester Avenue and Munson Street in Science Park.
Higher One, currently housed in 25 Science Park, anticipates significant growth and making room for it to move into the nearby renovated factory was a big impetus behind the plan, a collaboration between developer Carter Winstanley and the Science Park Development Corporation.
Commission Chair Ed Mattison asked if the developers had attended to neighbors’ concerns that local job opportunities be part of the project, which was a sticking point in the eventual approval of the project by the Board of Aldermen last month after at times contentious debate.
Winstanley (pictured, right) reviewed the ways in which outreach had been conducted, including the setting up of a dedicated office for local job seekers among the tenants of Science Park including Higher One.
Science Park attorney David Silverstone said that a credit counseling program came up as a new needed service, especially for potential jobs with Higher One, a financial company.
“Have you discussed how to handle [job applicants’] past criminal records?” Mattison inquired.
“Yes, as a financial firm Higher One is cognizant, but it’s not entirely in its control,” replied Silverstone.
The phase one plan calls for the restoration and connection of former factory buildings 29 and 30 for office use. Svigals + Partners architect Jay Brotman explained how the two buildings will be connected by a modern glass and aluminum structure (pictured above).
That plan in concept has already been approved by the federal Department of the Interior. “They like additions different from the original. They’re waiting for our fenestration plan,” he added.
“This project is impressive especially [your] working with the community,” said aldermanic representative to the commission Justin Elicker. Then he asked for details about the bike and car-use reduction plans.
The project’s civil engineer Ted DeSantos said the proposed buildings would have a large bike room, showers, and surrounding streets bike-laned where possible, and where not provided with “sharrow” signs.
Higher One’s part of the first phase consists of a $40 million build-out comprising 150,000 square feet. The total square footage to be renovated is 700,000, which includes 200 to 225 apartments, mostly at market rate but with 20 percent affordable; that would happen in a later phase.
If plans keep on schedule, the considerable environmental remediation of the old gun production site will commence in November or December, with Higher One hopes to cut the ribbon in 2012.