New plans surface for Chelsea's historic livery buildings

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

A new plan for renovating the historic livery buildings in downtown Chelsea have surfaced thanks to the friends group working to preserve the vacant structures.

Downtown Chelsea-based Dangerous Architects has put forward a plan that would turn the livery's three buildings into a mixed-use development complete with space for retail, restaurants and residential. It was the only submission for the the city's request for proposals for the building. The Chelsea Downtown Development Authority, which had once planned to raze the livery, will entertain the proposal on Thursday.

"The three main buildings are historic," says Scott McElrath, president of Dangerous Architects. "The structures and their foundations are strong. There is no reason to take them down."

McElrath proposed turning the original livery building into a non-profit craftsman space on the ground floor. Five to six apartments would go on the roof and underground parking in the basement.

The adjacent Daniels and Mack buildings would be turned into groundfloor retail space for a business that has shown interest in the property. The second floor would become restaurant space, complete with a rooftop deck.

"We do have a tenant interested in both buildings," McElrath says. "That would be out first major tenant and the major income producer that allows us to save the building."

McElrath estimates its would cost $1.8 million to renovate the livery buildings so they would be move-in ready. That cost doesn't include acquisition costs.

Source: Scott McElrath, president of Dangerous Architects
Writer: Jon Zemke