BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Many office buildings in Boston, like 85 Devonshire Street and 15 Court Square, have been approved to be converted into apartment housing.
This conversion is part of the city’s Office To Residential Conversion Program, which, according to the City of Boston Planning Department, “…is designed to help increase economic activity in Downtown Boston by increasing the amount of people living downtown, while helping stabilize the office market.”
Downtown resident Brigiba spoke very positively about the program and the conversion of these two offices specifically.
“Totally in favor of it, because there is no sense to have all these buildings empty, all these offices empty for nothing and people in need of it,” she said.
Brigiba also talked about how attracting more people to Boston makes the city an even better place to live.
“Boston, being a great city like it is, I think bringing more people, it’s a great source of transformation,” she said.
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Bruno from Somerville echoed Brigiba’s second thought, as he felt the conversions gave even more people the opportunity to experience the city.
“I can see most people nowadays, especially young people, they want to go to the city,” he said. “If they want to be inside of the city, they’re looking for where? Of course, apartments.”
Jonathan from Chelsea was also in favor of the conversions as long as people who needed the apartments most would be able to afford them.
“If they have programs that help families afford these houses, then I wouldn’t think it’s bad,” he said. “I think it’s good.”
According to The Boston Globe, KS Partners, the owner of 85 Devonshire Street and 15 Court Square, is currently looking for investors to help with the funding of the of the conversion, as, according to the City of Boston, "The state funding would fund up to $215,000 per affordable unit with a cap of $4 million per project."
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.