Pine Hill Crossing will be Ready to Rent/Lease in the Autumn

By Dot Bergin

If you’re driving along Pine Hill Road these days you’ve probably noticed activity at Pine Hill Crossing, the renovation project now underway on the site of the former Coast Guard housing.  The Citizen recently had a peek inside one home that is being readied for lease as early as September 1 and toured two other homes in various stages of redevelopment. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that is not apparent from the road!

Our guide was Fran DeCoste, Chief Operating Officer of TR/Advisors, the developer of Pine Hill Crossing, who is acting as project manager. Fran comes up daily from his home south of Boston to supervise all phases of the work and clearly is deeply engaged in preserving all that is good about the existing homes as well as coming up with some imaginative re-design ideas.

One immediate observation: although the homes look small from the outside they are 1200 sq. ft. in size and with an open floor plan, the interior is quite spacious. In the unit that will be leased “as is,” without major renovation, the existing appliances and fixtures were in such good condition they did not need to be replaced. Interestingly, the Federal Government maintained the properties carefully during the long spell when no one lived there: roofs were replaced and modern vinyl windows installed.

With repainting of the walls, updates to the plumbing, and carpet cleaning, this house will be ready for occupancy by September 1. That is the goal of phase one of the project: to renovate 13 of 15 existing homes for rental between September 1 and October 1, both to provide some immediate housing for the town and to bring in revenue for the developer as more extensive work begins.

DeCoste reported that calls from interested renters are already coming into the agency whose phone number is posted on signs at the entrance to the project.  He has a marketing plan in place and is planning to hold an open house in mid-August after he has finished a model unit to show prospective renters.

The Citizen toured a second unit in which more substantial changes are being made. All new hardwood flooring had just been installed and new cabinets were arriving soon. The kitchen and bath were rewired and replumbed; new appliances- dishwasher, electric stove, microwave, and refrigerator installed in the kitchen with a long granite counter top adding good work space. The existing gas furnace was in good condition but the hot water system has been replaced.  The bathroom is being updated with reglazing of the tiles and a new tile floor, along with new vanity and toilet.  Fran explained he wanted to give this unit some “sizzle” by spending on the dining and living areas. Doors are all solid and the original trim only needed repainting.  In DeCoste’s words, “we saw value in the existing homes and no need to ‘scrape’ these very usable structures.” The developer is very conscious of “adaptive reuse” and trying to keep rents low by reusing what is good. Five units have the floor plan of this unit.

How well are these homes insulated? That’s a frequently asked question. DeCoste was pleased to report that energy consultant MassEnergy had toured the property and reported that the existing insulation is excellent.

The Pine Hill Crossing rehabilitation isn’t a “cookie-cutter” job.  Seven units are undergoing extensive changes. Kitchens are being enlarged, a half bath added, and a windowed door installed in the kitchen to let in more light. Lighting has been rewired, new plumbing installed, the existing bath has been enlarged, DeCostesaidwith the addition of a one-piece shower unit and transom window. And these units will have central air-conditioning.  One of the seven units will be a two-bedroom (all others are three DeCoste said, “We found creative ways to bring upgrades to the units that we had not initially anticipated.”

In Phase Two of the project, the plan is to build 17 new homes, most likely in two-story, cottage style dwellings on a 750 – 800 sq. ft. foot print, to fit in with the existing homes.  This will entail having plans well developed enough so the developer can come before the 2017 Special Town Meeting for a vote on rezoning the property.  If this time frame isn’t possible, then TR/Advisors will come before the Spring 2018 Town Meeting.

Among the attractive features of the site are the beautiful, mature trees and rolling green lawns around the homes.  DeCoste said “We envision this as a pocket community, where people interact.  There are nice outdoor spaces and proximity to the bike/walking trail and to Bedford Center is a great feature.”  And yes, the playground will still be in place, at least for the time being.