Chestnut Park Apartments

In 2019 Related Companies was awarded $50 million in financing by MassHousing, a quasi-public agency in Massachusetts that funds affordable housing through bonds rather than taxpayer dollars, to renovate and refinance Chestnut Park Apartments, which were originally built in the 1970s. This substantial capital infusion allowed Related to reinvigorate Chestnut Park, and ETC was to turn Related’s vision into a reality.

The scope required widespread interior and exterior renovations across the complex, which comprised buildings ranging in size from 5 to 34 stories. Our work included full kitchen and bathroom rehabilitations, new flooring and doors, energy-efficient lighting and windows, replacement of HVAC systems, and installation of domestic and sanitary risers. In addition, common area and service improvements required work on the elevators, boilers, roofs, entrance canopies, building exhaust and make-up air, walkways, and landscaping.

Because of the extent of the interior work, each day two families would be rotated into temporary housing—and two families rotated out—for a three-week cycle, requiring coordination and tight scheduling controls to minimize tenant disruption and ensure on-time completion.

In the course of our renovations, we discovered previously completed substandard electrical work that required replacement of all major electrical feeders to the apartments; relocation of load centers; and upgrading of the local breaker panels, main switch panels, and switchgear. We formulated and executed a plan to complete these necessary corrections without jeopardizing the target completion date.

Understanding the sense of community this project represented to the local region, we completed this project while utilizing local subcontractors for more than 80 percent of the work. We completed the project on schedule despite delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unanticipated electrical work, allowing our client to maintain their timeline agreements.