LAWRENCE — Four historic buildings in the North Common neighborhood are getting a face lift and a new lease on life.
Dubbed the "Newbury & Garden Project," Lawrence Community Works purchased the buildings in 2008 in foreclosure and is converting them into four two-bedroom and four three-bedroom apartments at 67-69 Newbury St. and 119-121 Garden St.
"They are beautiful buildings and have to be rehabilitated historically," said Tamar Kotelchuck, before the ground breaking ceremony July 9 at 67-69 Newbury St.
When the nonprofit organization bought the duplexes, Kotelchuck, real estate project manager for Lawrence Community Works, said the homes were boarded up, contaminated with asbestos and lead and had not had any electric or plumbing upgrades in years. The homes had been stripped of copper plumbing and there was water and structural damage, resulting from abandonment.
According to realestate.aol.com, there are 597 foreclosed homes in Lawrence. Newbury and Garden streets are located in the 01841 zip code, the area with the highest foreclosure rate in Massachusetts, Kotelchuck said.
She said over the last decade the homes purchased on Newbury and Garden streets have had several owners through quick sale and at times were sold every one to 11/2 years.
"This will ensure that they will be in a stable, professional management for a long time," Kotelchuck said.
One person happy about the acquisition and rehabilitation of the buildings is Ana Rodriguez.
"It has been extremely painful to see this happen," said Rodriguez, who has lived on Haverhill Street since 1986. "When boarded up buildings started springing up across the neighborhood, Lawrence Community Work knew something needed to be done."
The 21/2 story homes on Newbury Street were built in the 1850s for mill workers. The Greek revival duplex featured a gabled roof. The Italian-style building on Garden Street is part of the Mechanic block historic district.
Landmark Structures Corp. of Woburn is renovating the two buildings. Steve Eisenberg is project manager and Rob Johnson is supervisor.
Johnson said they started demolition in April taking down all the plaster on the brick and some of the walls. The floors and brick work remained intact.
Improvements include new plumbing and electricity, new roofing, high glaze windows and energy star appliances to keep energy costs low. The project is expected to be complete in October.
Renovations are being done through a partnership between Lawrence Community Works, the City of Lawrence, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Mass Housing Investment Corporation, Enterprise Bank and Neighbor Work America. The project has raised $1.9 million in public and private funds for the renovation and construction.
"The City is excited about the transformation that will take place on Garden Street," said Community Development Director James Barnes. "The collaboration between the city, Lawrence Community Work and the state is a worthy example of stabilizing neighborhoods through a coordinated foreclosure response strategy."
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Other renovations done by Lawrence Community Work
60-62 Newbury St., a six-family historic brick building with four, three-bedroom apartments and two four-bedroom apartments
10 Jackson Terrace, a two-family, wood frame with two three-bedroom apartments
103-105 Haverhill St., a four-unit, brick building with two three-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments
107-113 Newbury St., two-bedroom townhouses and flats, one of which is completely wheelchair accessible.
Farnham Court is four buildings in South Lawrence converted into 11 affordable rental housing.
Berkley Place, at 41 Berkeley St., kitchens, bathrooms and common areas were updated on the units and new windows, floors and wall finishes were installed. The city donated the lot at 37 Berkeley St., which expanded the parking area, created a playground and installed landscaping and fencing.
11 Bradford St., five one- and two-bedroom affordable apartments. Repairs included a new roof, energy efficient fixtures, rear egress stairs, windows, insulation, de-leading and updates to kitchens and baths in apartments.
