Transforming a former foundry site into an asset

Preston Meadows Condominium Brownfield Redevelopment

Most wouldn’t envision a former foundry site as a new residential development. But we did. When the City of Cambridge put out a proposal for purchase and development, we brought the opportunity to our clients. Most said no. What sold Reids Heritage Homes on working with us was our integrated approach to brownfield development.

We started by including the community to ease concerns about development. We utilized new grant programs that made it financially viable. Multiple disciplines worked together to save time and money by creating solutions. In addition to unsuitable material from years of industrial use, an adjacent rail line posed noise and safety issues. We used the material to build a berm that addressed all three issues. This landscaped berm also satisfied the city’s need for a pedestrian link between major roads at either end of the site.

Once an eyesore, Preston Meadows is now an asset to the community. A mix of buildings offers affordable housing. Park land dedicated to the city is a place for everyone to enjoy. The development was a pilot for the LEED-ND certification making it one of the first successful residential brownfield developments in the region.