The Mill District Housing Development on the existing “Scott Mills” site proposes cross laminated timber (CLT) construction for mixed-use housing and ecological landscape remediation along the Saugus River. This multi-family housing development preserves and respects the historic mill building on site and meets the sustainability goals of the Saugus Mills zoning overlay. The building massing design leverages advantages of the sloping site in the building section, to reflect the lower scale and material qualities of the nearby Saugus Iron Works, a historic landmarked site.  The primary three-story building along the northwest houses 50 apartments including senior single and family units and an 80-car parking garage, with an efficient on grade vehicular entry that traverses the natural slope of the existing street.

The housing development includes public amenities that serve residents and the Saugus community. A new building on the south corner houses a local café, wellness studio and gym. Integrated with the housing, a two-level 5,000 GSF restaurant and terrace overlook the riverfront. An outdoor plaza for events and daily use connects the development with a public bridge to the east bank of the Saugus River, where four new 2,300 GSF residential town house buildings are located. The site design restores natural vegetation and native species along new walking trails that provide public access to the riverfront.

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Date: 2017
Status: Feasibility Study
Client: Private Developer
Location: Saugus, MA