$23M Plan Unveiled to Turn Vacant Bank Into Courthouse, Apartments in South Boston
A Boston developer has submitted a $23 million proposal to relocate the South Boston courthouse to a vacant bank building on West Broadway and build apartments on top of it. The proposal comes up for public discussion on Tuesday, March 11.
If approved, the former South Boston Saving Bank at 460 W. Broadway could be the new site for the South Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court at 535 E. Broadway.
According to Cedarwood Development, LLC, construction on the 11,858 square feet of space could begin by the end of 2025 and be completed by 2027. A report by the Massachusetts Trial Court noted that the existing South Boston courthouse on East Broadway needs “substantial renovations” that could cost Massachusetts $60 million. The building “no longer meets the needs of the Trial Court,” the document said.
Cedarwood Development told MassLive that it would maintain the historic integrity of the 1948 bank structure and add a six-story vertical addition. According to Cedarwood’s application, the first three floors of the design would include lobby space and two new “state-of-the-art courtrooms” for use by the Trial Court of the Commonwealth. The building’s proposed design also includes offices for the district attorney, clerks, and probation officials.
The upper levels of the building would include at least 20 apartment units, including several two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and at least one studio apartment unit. To create separation between the residential and court functions of the building, Cedarwood has proposed an indoor sallyport, a secured and fortified entrance, and a ground-level hallway for residents only.
Cedarwood’s application for the mixed-use development is under review by the City of Boston Planning Department. The virtual public meeting on March 11, held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., will present an overview of the proposed project, followed by a question-and-answer opportunity for members of the public.