New Bedford apartment projects seek to revitalize vacant, blighted buildings

Frank Mulligan, The Standard-Times
Updated ·3 min read

NEW BEDFORD — The buildings at 192 Sawyer St. and 105 Ashley Blvd. have a lot in common.

It's not just that they're located within a quarter-mile of each other.

Both structures are well over 100 years old.

Both are described by city building inspectors as "vacant and blighted."

And both are well on their way through the permitting process to win approval to be rehabilitated, and add 17 apartments to the city's housing stock.

Each project received unanimous Planning Board approval Feb. 9 following site plan review hearings.

The plan for 192 Sawyer St. is to convert the former four, four-bedroom apartment building with no off-street parking, into an eight-apartment building, each with two bedrooms, with four on-site parking spaces and six bike racks.
The plan for 192 Sawyer St. is to convert the former four, four-bedroom apartment building with no off-street parking, into an eight-apartment building, each with two bedrooms, with four on-site parking spaces and six bike racks.

Both proposals will be back before the board on March 13 for special permits to allow less parking than required by city regulation.

Plans would create 17 apartments

Attorney Christopher Saunders represented the two unaffiliated owners during the Planning Board hearings Feb. 9.

Andre Moreira of Stoughton owns 192 Sawyer St., and Audley Bodden of New Bedford owns 105 Ashley Blvd.

Saunders said the plan for 192 Sawyer St. was to convert the former four, four-bedroom apartment building with no off-street parking, into an eight-apartment building, each with two bedrooms, with four on-site parking spaces and six bike racks. The building was built about 1910.

The lot is 3,814 square feet.

City regulations require 16 parking spaces. The requested reduction will be heard by the board March 13.

Saunders said green space will be added. There is none at present, and walking areas will be increased within the site.

Plan praised for developing housing

Planning Board Chair Arthur Glassman said, "I think it's a great project. I think we're taking a blighted parcel, and turning it into something useful. We're doubling the units, and we definitely need housing that's affordable."

Planning Board member Kamile Khazan applauded the goal of reclaiming the building. "It helps with the mission of revitalizing that area, and it's increasing home availability. I'm really looking forward to seeing this plan come to fruition."

The plan for 105 Ashley Blvd., a former commercial property, is to develop nine apartments - two handicap-compliant apartments on the first floor; two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments on the second floor; and three two-bedroom apartments on the third floor.
The plan for 105 Ashley Blvd., a former commercial property, is to develop nine apartments - two handicap-compliant apartments on the first floor; two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments on the second floor; and three two-bedroom apartments on the third floor.

The plan for 105 Ashley Blvd., a former commercial property, is to develop nine apartments — two handicap-compliant apartments on the first floor; two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments on the second floor; and three two-bedroom apartments on the third floor.

The structure was built about 1901, and the lot is 10,860 square feet.

Eighteen parking spots are required.

Site a former fish market, second-hand store

They're proposing 10 off-street parking spaces, four bike racks and five motorcycle or scooter spaces. That requested reduction will also be heard next month.

Planning Board member Khazan said the site was a former fish market.

Armando Pereira of CDBS (Comprehensive Design/Build Services), said he could recall it being a second-hand store in the '70s. CDBS did work on both projects.

Planning Board Chair Arthur Glassman said of 192 Sawyer St., "I think it's a great project. I think we're taking a blighted parcel, and turning it into something useful. We're doubling the units, and we definitely need housing that's affordable."
Planning Board Chair Arthur Glassman said of 192 Sawyer St., "I think it's a great project. I think we're taking a blighted parcel, and turning it into something useful. We're doubling the units, and we definitely need housing that's affordable."

The proposed project at 105 Ashley Blvd. will "definitely be a shot in the arm for the neighborhood," Pereira said.

The Sawyer Street property also needs a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which will hear the petition Thursday, Feb. 15.

Past uses of 105 Ashley Blvd. said to have included a fish market, and a second-hand store.
Past uses of 105 Ashley Blvd. said to have included a fish market, and a second-hand store.

The Ashley Boulevard property already has a ZBA special permit OK, as well as a variance to reduce driveway width.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford apartment buildings going from blight to 17 units