Charlestown’s Ropewalk project down at the Navy Yard will share in $39 million in federal and city funds to create more affordable housing opportunities in the neighborhood.
The $34 million Ropewalk project, which received Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approval in April, will create 80 units of housing with 26 units being affordable. The funding, which will create or preserve 1,194 affordable housing units citywide, is possible through $27 million in federal and local resources through the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) and $11.7 million in linkage funds through Boston’s Neighborhood Housing Trust.
“It is imperative that we continue to support affordable housing in our neighborhoods, and this funding will help many of our families in need of safe housing stay in their homes,” said Mayor Martin Walsh. “By investing in housing, we are supporting economic development and creating jobs that will revitalize Boston’s neighborhoods for future generations.”
The developers of Ropewalk will revitalize the deteriorating structures with a sensitive program of historic restoration and an innovative interior design theme for the residential rental units.
Following the design suggestions from the BRA, the team said they will create new housing through a renovation process that will retain as much of the existing interior building components as possible.
The Project will provide a range of mixed-income housing types with the majority of the units being one and three bedroom townhouses in the Ropewalk. Twenty-six units will be designated affordable.
A majority of the units inside the Ropewalk building will be accessed via a spectacular interior corridor that will allow the unique experience of this quarter mile long structure that will be preserved.
More traditional one and two bedroom flats are planned for the Ropewalk’s Headhouse and three bedroom townhouses with private entrances are planned for the Tar House.
In addition to the residential use, a museum dedicated to preserving the Ropewalk’s history will be established at the Fifth Street end of the building. The museum space will display equipment and other items used in the historic rope manufacturing process.
The two buildings will provide up to 110,750 square feet of residential rental use. A trash room with compactors and space for recycling will be located in the Tar House with direct access from Ninth Street.
As a public benefit, the developer will recreate the historic “Flirtation Walk” area along the southern edge of the building with new lighting and streetscaping.