2020: Year in Review

2020…what was that!?   

It has been a tough year for so many, and we are thankful to still be in a position to help where we can: by facilitating and providing rental assistance to our residential and retail tenants, by making our buildings to be more pandemic resistant and prepared, by supporting our property management teams who have been working harder than ever, by working from home to stop the spread, and rooting for all the healthcare workers and public servants. 

Amidst the focus on our residents, tenants, and partners in this new reality; we’ve also tried to keep looking ahead; recognizing that continuing to build, vision, and plan for the future are also incredibly important to the communities where we work. So, we’re especially proud of the things we’ve been able to accomplish this year throughout the Commonwealth:

• Reading - Ace Flats in Reading is well under construction, with the model unit opened this month. We’re excited to cut the ribbon this summer and bring 55 more mixed-income households to a beautiful and growing transit oriented downtown. The building will feature an elevated, southern facing courtyard and numerous apartments with private decks.

• Williamstown - As soon as buyers could tour them, the stunning Riverhouses and Modern Mill designed by MERGE, located along the Green River within walking distance to Williams College were sold out. The ability to work remotely while enjoying the outdoors and all the cultural opportunities will only widen the appeal of the Berkshires in the coming years, and we’re excited to continue to build on our decades of work in the area.

• Hamilton - In the spring of 2020, as we were adjusting to working from home and conducting public meetings via Zoom, we secured the rights, and later in the year, the funding through the Community Scale Housing Initiative, to develop an 18-unit mixed income, mixed use building in the heart of Hamilton’s downtown. The project represents a long-time vision of the town to add sorely needed, well-located, well-designed affordable housing to their community. We’re looking forward to a groundbreaking in the Spring of 2021 and the project is being designed to passive house standards.

• Chelsea - We received funding in late 2020 from the Department of Housing and Community Development to advance our 38-unit mixed income project on the banks of the Mill Creek at the gateway between Revere and Chelsea. We’ll be shooting for a groundbreaking in the Summer of 2021, and this one is also being designed to passive house standards.

• Boston - Finally, it continues to be an honor to work with our non-profit clients (United South End Settlements, Children’s Services of Roxbury, YES, to name a few) as they have quickly adapted to serving their kids and families in a pandemic. Our work with each continues to be focused on getting their real estate to best advance their mission, and this year that meant adapting to a new early education operating model, to a new retail and economic development environment, and to a new funding environment.

2019: Year in Review

2019 was another fantastic year for Traggorth Companies. We had projects at every stage in the development process moving forward, delivering a transformative impact to the communities where we work. And as promised in last year’s update, we partied hard this past spring at Dan and Gen’s beautiful Maine wedding.

• In April we dipped our toe into Worcester by acquiring the smallest, most complex project we could find. While the conversion of the former Mission Chapel, near Union Station and the new WooSox ballpark into seven high end residential units will take every design and finance tool in the toolbox, we think this beautiful building with an important history is worth it.

• This fall we cut the ribbon at the Granville in Haverhill, completing construction on our second Haverhill adaptive reuse of a shoe factory along Washington Street (the first being JM Lofts). The 24 lofts are all spoken for and we’re looking forward to finding the perfect tenant for the 3,000 square feet of retail space in 2020.

• Travelling down the Haverhill commuter line to Reading, we broke ground on 24 Gould Street. Permitted under the Commonwealth’s smart growth incentive program, this project adjacent to the train stop with its 55 apartments (25% affordable) and 3,500 square feet of retail is a poster child for smart growth, transit oriented design, that Boston desperately needs.

• We’re close to wrapping up construction of the Riverhouses and Modern Mills at Cable Mills, 8 river front homes in Williamstown, Massachusetts. We cannot wait to unveil these spectacular homes in early 2020 with their massive windows, riverfront location, mountain views, and decidedly modern aesthetic. Meanwhile, the buzz around the Northern Berkshires as a great place to live, work, and play grows.

• In one of the more heartburn inducing experiences of 2019, we successfully permitted our next Chelsea project which will bring 38 affordable apartments and more than 5,000 square feet of open space along the Mill Creek. We look forward to securing the necessary financing in 2020 and starting construction in 2021.

• Last but not least, a big part of what we do on a day-to-day basis involves helping our non-profit clients align their real estate to their mission and vision. In 2019 we were honored to work with so many organizations doing good work in the Commonwealth. To name a few they are: United South End Settlements, YES, East Boston Social Centers, Southwest Boston Community Development Corp, Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, and the Eliot School.

Thank you all for supporting, encouraging, mentoring, and following our work in the way that you do. We look forward to another exciting year in 2020.

Dave, Dan and Tanya

2016: Year in Review

As you'll read below, the highlights of 2016 have been numerous and we're so grateful for the opportunity to continue to advance innovative projects that push the boundaries in multi-family housing and community development. Thanks to all of our amazing partners and we look forward an equally exciting and productive 2017! 

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• On time and on budget, Mosaic wrapped up this fall. As of this writing, the 42 market rate condominiums are sold, the 60 affordable rentals are nearly full, and the 43 affordable condominium sales will wrap up in 2017. The project has been a tremendous success and most importantly will provide affordable housing near jobs and transit in Boston's Longwood Medical Area. 
• J.M. Lofts in Haverhill, completed construction in the summer and was an instant hit. It's 18 one and two-bedroom lofts were leased at record setting rents in Haverhill, and the retail is fully leased with some of the most innovative businesses in Haverhill: Battle Grounds Coffee, K Modern Furnishings, and another new, but well known Haverhill business that is already expanding. 
• Also in Haverhill, we just completed this month the permitting for 87 Washington Street, just down the street from J.M. Lofts. We're proposing 24 loft apartments with 3,000 square feet of retail. We're excited to build on the momentum happening in Haverhill.  
• We began a partnership with Southwest Boston CDC around the Residences at Fairmount Station, a 27 unit affordable rental building directly adjacent to the Fairmount commuter rail stop. The project, was awarded the necessary funds to move forward with construction in 2017 and we are proud to be associated with the first affordable housing to be built in Hyde Park in more than two decades. 
• Cable Mills completed construction in late Spring with the demand for loft apartments in Williamstown off the charts. After years of collaborative efforts to make this project happen, seeing a full building with kids and families playing by the river is one of the major highlights of 2016. 
• Given the success of Cable Mills, we've been collaborating with Merge Architects planning the River Houses at Cable Mills, our for-sale option in spectacular new construction homes along the Green River. 
• One of the best parts of our work is teaming up with amazing non-profits to help them advance their real estate objectives. We've expanded our work with Roxbury Tenants of Harvard and Asian Community Development Corp while working for the first time with Allston Brighton CDC and Youth Enrichment Services (YES!). 
• While we completed our last development project in Chelsea in 2015, we couldn't stay away for long. In the spring of this year we purchased 466 Broadway right in the center of Bellingham Square. An all affordable, historic building with ground floor retail, we're undertaking repairs to improve the resident's quality of life and planning for the future of this great building in a great city that we love.
• And last but not least, we've welcomed Dave Danker to the team this year as an Asset Manager as we continue to operate and always improve our growing portfolio. 

2015: The Year in Review

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Flats at 22 in Chelsea's Box District. 

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New windows installed at J.M. Lofts in Haverhill, MA.

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Mayor Walsh joined us for a topping off event at Mosaic earlier this year. 

2015 was another great year for us at TC and thanks to all of our partners, friends, and family that helped make it possible. A few of the highlights: 

• Amid the snowstorms of last winter in February, we opened Flats at 22 in Chelsea, and by the time the snow melted, we were fully leased. It represented our last project (for now at least!) in the Box District. As we wrapped up the Silver Line started construction and be completed in late 2016.
• As the snow cleared we also started construction on Mosaic, 145 units of mixed income housing in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood. We've sold nearly 20% of the market rate condominiums so far, and are ramping up affordable sales and leasing for later this spring. Occupancy is expected for Fall of 2016. 
• We broke ground on the historic J.M. Lofts in Haverhill, transforming a former shoe factory into 18 one and two-bedroom lofts. Construction is moving along nicely and the project due to be open in the Spring of 2016.
• 2015 was a transformative year for Cable Mills. Due to open later this winter, and with pre-leasing going strong, the living spaces that have been created -- with views of the Green River, tall ceilings, massive windows, and exposed brick and beam finishes -- are remarkable. 
• We managed the refinancing of 81 units of affordable housing in Mission Hill owned by the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, allowing for it's long term preservation, while also allowing for an overdue renovation. 
• We moved our office from Back Bay to Downtown Crossing (50 Summer Street, above the 7 Eleven) in the summer allowing us a bit more room to grow, and we welcomed Andrew Guild and Dan O'Shea to the team this year. 

2014: The Year in Review

Another great year (almost) in the books and we'd like to thank all of our family, friends, and colleagues for making this a tremendously successful year and we look forward to more in 2015! Just a few of the things that made 2014 memorable....

Flats at 22 under construction, due for completion in January 2015

Governor Patrick cuts the Ribbon at the Flats at 44, completed March 2014

The new computer lab at the RTH Community Center

Off-Centre Lofts in Jamaica Plain, completed in September 2014

• We completed the historic rehabilitation Off-Centre Lofts in Jamaica Plain - 21 new studio and one-bedroom lofts fully leased.
• The Flats at 44 opened in March and was fully leased by mid-year representing the first Housing Development Incentive Program project in the Commonwealth. Governor Patrick helped us cut the ribbon.
• Following closely behind we broke ground on 50 apartments at the Flats at 22 and expect to finish this coming month. More than half of the building is pre-leased.
• We broke ground on Cable Mills, the conversion of a beautiful historic mill into 61 loft apartments in Williamstown, MA across from Williams College.
• Completed the 28,000 square foot Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Community Center creating an amazing community space provide new wellness and educational opportunities for the residents it serves.
• We permitted 18 lofts and 4,500 square feet of ground floor retail at the former Surplus Office Supply building as momentum continues to build for what will be a remarkable transformation for downtown Haverhill.
• We accepted a national Urban Land Institute Award along with our Box District partners for our work in Chelsea, and spoke on several panels about workforce housing, modular housing, and reducing costs of development. 
• Dave and Julia welcomed twins to the family! Whit and Ellie Traggorth were born in September.

2013: The Year in Review

One Greenway, Chinatown, Boston, MA

The Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Community Center under construction

The Flats at 44 under construction in Chelsea, MA

Thanks to all of our colleagues, friends, and partners for making 2013, the first of TC, a very special year.

• Tanya joined us in April bringing her many talents and determination to the team. She wasted no time jumping into the deep end by managing the closing of the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Community Center New Markets Tax Credit closing with our friends at MHIC.
• Cassandra joined us in July as an accountant/office manager and does an amazing job keeping us in line and laughing all along the way.
• Nick joined us for a great summer and now knows why "One-Stop" strikes fear into affordable housing developers across Massachusetts.
• We broke ground on three fantastic projects totaling 63 apartments and 21,000 sf of community space: The Flats at 44 in Chelsea, The Off-Centre Lofts (aka Norbert School) in Jamaica Plain, and The Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Community Center in Boston's Mission Hill. All three will be completed in 2014!
• We celebrated with our friends at The Neighborhood Developers when funding was announced for the Silver Line Extension to Chelsea and the Box District Station to go along with it. Read more about this from the Chelsea Record here.
• We were honored to assist the New Boston Fund and the Asian Community Development Corporation with the affordable financing closing at Parcel 24, now called One Greenway. It will be such an important project for Boston and the Chinatown neighborhood with 95 affordable apartments. Read more here.
• We celebrated with The Community Builders on the opening of 225 Centre and look forward to an exciting 2014 as we continue to manage the retail leasing of the project.
• And finally...we moved upstairs to Suite 833 to provide ourselves with a little bit more elbow room!

We're looking forward to a fun and productive 2014 and wish you all a Happy New Year!