$1 million in funding will transform New Bedford's former Hillman Firehouse into apartments
Kathryn GalleraniNEW BEDFORD — The fate of the historic Hillman Firehouse has been secured with its transformation into affordable housing expected to begin by the end of the year.
A $1.05 million grant from New Bedford’s Housing Expansion Initiative fills the gap in funding that will allow the Waterfront Area Historic League, or WHALE, to move forward with its plans for eight affordable housing units in the former fire station originally built in 1892.
Executive Director Teri Bernert said they have looked at the 130-year-old building for some time for reuse because it is so historically significant but have not had the capacity until now to make the transition from former fire station and then civil defense headquarters to affordable housing.
“It’s in a neighborhood in which the historic fabric is still intact and if the building got demolished it would really create in a hole in that community,” she said. “A lot of the residents around were thrilled that we are saving it. There are a lot of memories associated with the building, and although it doesn’t look like it is, it is structurally sound.”
Bernert said there’s a huge need for affordable housing in the city and adaptive reuse of old fire houses makes sense with all the spaces inside, the ceiling height and the beams and brick. The Hillman station is laid out nicely for eight units of housing, she said. Part of one of the units is inside the fire tower.
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The project was one of five affordable housing projects awarded a total of $11.2 million in federal funds New Bedford received under the American Rescue Plan Act and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program administered by the Office of Housing and Community Development.
The $3.5 million restoration project includes $3 million in construction costs. WHALE has also been awarded historic tax credits and Community Preservation Act funding for the project. The building was slated for demolition until WHALE and the city stepped in to rescue it.
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Development Manager Georgia McDonald shared that the project is unique in that it’s a deep energy retrofit, meaning that the building envelope will be highly insulated and the mechanical systems extremely energy efficient.
Bernert said green development in a historic structure isn’t always easy, but the focus is on sustainability.
The engineering team and architects of Studio2Sustain in New Bedford are working on creating construction bid documents that will go out to general contractors in the fall. The goal is to start construction by the end of the year with a completion date an estimated 14 to 16 months later.
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Bernert and McDonald are excited about being able to bring new life to the historic building with its brick and granite exterior punctuated with terra cotta accents but are more excited for the residents of the community.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.