The First Church campus rededication project consists of two major components: restoration and rehabilitation of the historic 1914 Parish House, and redevelopment of the church’s “west block” to include a new low-rise mixed-use building.
The new building is designed as a “podium structure.” Podium buildings are the most affordable way to achieve dense housing in facilities that also have other uses, such as offices, public assembly, and parking. This building type also makes best use of the church parcel’s 85-foot height limit.
The new building consists of two stories built above existing grade in “Type I” concrete construction. This concrete structure is the aforementioned “podium” and houses the facility’s parking, preschool, and office/assembly uses. Two basement levels are envisioned to provide parking for the church and community center on one level, and the apartment residents on the other.
Above the concrete podium, five stories of modular wood frame “Type V” construction are envisioned to provide new apartment homes right up to the height limit.
