WESTFORD — Renovation work continues at the 70 Boston Rd. property, which will be converted from a real estate office into several workforce housing units.
The project will convert the former Coldwell Banker offices into five apartment rental units, as well as at least one purchasable condominium through Community Preservation Act funding approved by Special Town Meeting last October.
Historic preservation of the property
The Drew Farmhouse, Inc., a new non-profit, is using $1.45 million in CPA funding to create four one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit for rent.
“We will retain as much of the old as we can like the beautiful bay window looking out on Boston Road,” Drew Farmhouse, Inc. President Ellen Harde told WestfordCAT. “The original stairway is here and the banister, taken down for reconstruction will go back.”
Additionally, the project will retain each of the original doorways and restore historic features, such as doorbells, curved walls and a diamond-shaped window.
“From the outside, the building will continue to look exactly as it does today,” she said. “[We hope] nobody who lives here forgets the heritage [of the building].”
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The first three units will be built in the historic farmhouse, while the fourth and fifth apartments will be created in a section of the building that Coldwell Banker later added during renovations in 1994.
The fourth and fifth apartments, which have a palladium window and high ceilings, were designed by architect and Westford resident Paul Davies.
“We will keep the high ceilings just the way Paul designed it,” she said.
The units will be for residents who qualify for “workforce affordable housing.”
“[This is for] people who have good jobs but they can’t afford to live in Westford anymore,” she said. “They will be lower rents than what you will find in Westford.”
Habitat for Humanity, YouthBuild partners on project
Habitat for Humanity has partnered with The Drew Farmhouse, Inc. to create at least one three-bedroom condominium in the property’s barnhouse.
One three-bedroom condominium will be housed on the first floor in the former reception area for Coldwell Banker, while a second unit will be on the second floor of the barnhouse via a restored historic staircase.
“There will be a new stairway created to the second floor of the barn, which is just all as it was when it was built. It’s wonderful, all roughed in,” she said.
Additionally, students from YouthBuild Lowell deconstructed the former office space.
Work is scheduled to begin on each unit in early Spring.
“We’re going full-steam ahead,” she said.
Keeping funding local
Harde says though the project is primarily funded through CPA funding, additional funds are needed to meet the needs of the project’s budget.
“The Town Meeting on Oct. 16 was incredibly generous,” she said. “We are wonderfully grateful for that.”
She added, “to be honest our budget is closer to $1.6 million. We’re still asking for donations and going up for grants.”
Harde reiterated the non-profit’s commitment to using Westford-based contractors for the project.
Residents who wish to donate towards the project may contact Drew Farmhouse, Inc. President Ellen Harde via email.
