Current Housing Projects
As part of NewVue’s economic and community development work, we renovate older buildings, no longer in use, into attractive, safe and affordable housing. Most often renovating historical properties, our housing development team brings decades of experience in single-building and campus-style housing. We know what it takes to make a great space to live, and you know what it takes to make that space your home. We currently have two housing development projects underway.
Residence at the Park
With the grand opening of the new Athol Community Elementary Schools in 2016, the Athol Board of Selectmen received approval to evaluate the disposition of numerous vacant town buildings. A report was issued including the reuse of the Bigelow and Riverbend Schools and both were recommended to be used for much-needed housing while preserving the historic facades.
The Riverbend School was constructed in 1907 and was expanded in 1937. The Ellen Bigelow School was constructed in 1912 and underwent a basement renovation in 1954.
In July 2019, the Town of Athol announced its plans to secure a qualified developer to design and implement a productive reuse plan for the Riverbend and Ellen Bigelow Schools. Given NewVue Communities’ expertise in renovating historic buildings and the desire to serve the Town of Athol through the development of multi-generational mixed-income housing, we submitted a strong development proposal.
On September 12, 2019, the Athol Board of Selectmen unanimously chose NewVue Communities and ICON Architecture as the Town’s developer/partner to renovate the two-school campus into 53 units of intergenerational and affordable housing.
The architect rendering includes the anticipated redevelopment of the two schools, added senior housing building, and redevelopment of play space, community space, and parking. We invite you to visit this page for updates on our progress.
Architect: ICON Architects
Fitchburg Arts Community
The Fitchburg Arts Community will provide 68 mixed-income, artist-preference apartments in three former historic municipal buildings. NewVue Communities (NewVue) is converting the former BF Brown Middle School (62 Academy Street), the former City Stables, and the former High School Annex (82 Academy Street) into apartments and artist amenities. The project is located across the street from and in partnership with the Fitchburg Art Museum.
The Fitchburg Arts Community will be more than three buildings offering attractive, safe, affordable housing. It is all about the community, artists, and those with a passion for art who live there. It includes a partnership with the Fitchburg Art Museum, which will partner with residents to provide professional development and programming. It is about the artist residents, the Museum team, and the broader Fitchburg community coming together to nurture and sustain a creative community in Fitchburg.