Launched in the basement of Boston’s Christian Science Church, the Fenway Community Health Center has been an affordable neighborhood clinic since the 1970s.
Staffed by volunteer medical students from Northeastern University, the drop-in treatment center was founded on the belief that everyone is entitled to care. As a result, no one is turned away who can’t afford help, including seniors, low-income residents and students.
"When the community health movement started in New England, we were a part of that effort, offering health care as a right, no matter what your personal situation," said Steve Boswell, executive director of the center.
Since its inception, the number of patients has swelled to more than 60,000 annually, up from 5,000 in its early days. In part, the growth was due to specializing in health care for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Due to its need for more space, the organization will be moving to 1330 Boylston St. The building’s elevation ranges from 8 to 14 stories and its exterior will feature brick work, pre-cast concrete, aluminum curtain walls and punched windows.
The nonprofit is consolidating three of its four offices at the new location, which is within steps of Fenway Park. The South End clinic will remain a satellite location, with more locations to come. The new facility will include apartments, retail space and 290 underground parking spaces.
Samuels & Assoc. is the project’s developer. The project team also includes Suffolk Construction and Elkus/Manfredi Architects, both of Boston.
Fenway Ventures, a joint venture between Samuels & Assoc. and Boylston Properties, recently completed the nearby Trilogy mixed-use project that includes 405 studio, one- two- and three-bedroom luxury rental units. Another 171 apartment units are owned and managed by Harvard University for Harvard Medical students, faculty and staff.
The $100 million building broke ground last year and includes more than 350,000 square feet. While the health center will occupy 95,000 square feet, an additional 15,000 square feet is allocated for retail and the rest will be residential. A 10,000-square-foot conference space on the 10th floor with a 160-seat auditorium will be available for community groups to use.
There also will be 200 apartments available for rent with 5 percent deemed affordable, according to John Weigel IV, president of Fenway Ventures.
"At some point we may sell the units, when the market is right," he said. "Today, the market’s still soft while the rental market is strong."
‘Urban Village’
The Fenway Civic Association Neighborhood worked with the Boston Redevelopment Authority to rezone the land in the Fenway to make the development a reality.
"The neighborhood wants an urban village setting and to achieve that, you need people to move in and essential services readily available to make it work," said Boswell. "All that was here before was an old tavern and a parking lot. Recent developments will increase the density of people and draw in more retail."
While strides are being made to improve Boylston Street, the strip still includes fast-food restaurants, parking lots and gas stations.
"We want the Fenway neighborhood to change from an urban auto-dominated throughway to a metropolitan downtown street," said William Richardson, president of the Fenway Civic Association. "Developments like 1330 Boylston and Trilogy are exactly the type of projects we had envisioned when the city rezoned. People just didn’t like the whole tone of Boylston Street. We were looking for more of a Main Street-type atmosphere."
New zoning guidelines for the neighborhood were approved in 2004, according to Jessica Shumaker, a BRA spokeswoman.
The Boston Red Sox have purchased properties to improve the neighborhood and cash in on the area’s growing popularity. The team’s owners quietly have been buying property around the park since a consortium headed by John Henry bought the team in 2002 for $660 million.
So far the team, under the name of New England Sports Ventures, has purchased the former Sophia’s Latin Bar and Restaurant at 1270 Boylston St., 160-170 Ipswich St., the Town Taxi garages at 154-156 Ipswich St., radio station WBCN’s former headquarters at 1265 Boylston St. and a McDonald’s restaurant at 1282 Boylston St.
"What developers like Samuels are doing is terrific," said Boswell. "The neighborhood has been on the right track since they started their work."
