East Boston Development News: 28 Rental Units Going Up by Suffolk Downs

Developer Joseph Ricupero plans to renovate the commercial space at 1214-1222 Bennington St., a brief walk from Suffolk Downs, with a four-story addition of 28 rental units, five of which will be income-restricted. 

The new units will include a single three-bedroom,16 two-bedroom, and 11 one-bedroom apartments, ranging from just over 500 sq ft to 1,300 sq ft. Common and private decks will also be erected atop the structure’s roof, with balconies available to select units. 

The ground-level offices at 1214-1218 will be converted into two retail units, offering extensive storage space and bike parking to renters.

Construction will include several public realm improvements, including the addition of new trees and landscaping along the front of the building. The asphalt sidewalks will also be brought up to the standards outlined by the Public Improvement Commission.

“We started with the idea of preserving the existing building, the existing windows, especially for the brick building that we felt could be very compatible with the future residential use,” said architect Eric Zachrison. “So we’re going to be kind of giving that a bit of a facelift”

Zachrison designed the addition with COR-TEN steel, a reddish metal selected to age alongside the original brickwork. Over time, the metal will begin to brown, becoming more similar to the before peeling off into a more neutral gray. An array of platers is planned to be mounted to the building’s facade to contrast the red with some greenery. The public comment period for this construction will be open until July 30, after which it will go before the zoning board for approval. Comments can be left here.