4th Quarter 2018
NEI Quarterly
Transit-Oriented Mixed-Use Development Now Complete in Downtown Beverly
Historic Cardinal Cushing Centers Repurposed
awards MassHousing Honors WinnCompanies and NEI General Contracting for Their Use of MBE and WBE Across MA
of working families across Massachusetts.
MassHousing has recognized the efforts of WinnCompanies and NEI General Contracting for their utilization of Minority and WomenOwned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) in fiscal year 2018, which created economic opportunities for hundreds
NEI received the General Contractor Award of Excellence for exceeding goals in contracting with both minority and women-owned businesses on a single project. From a $20.2 Million contract for the mod-rehab of the 173-unit Maple Commons housing community in Springfield, $6 Million (30%) went to MBE subcontractors and $3.5 Million (17%) went to WBE subcontractors. NEI
had goals of 15% for MBEs and 10% for WBEs for Maple Commons. Overall in fiscal year 2018, NEI had $62.9 Million in total contracting for five MassHousing-financed construction projects, of which $19.9 Million went to MBEs and $11.4 Million went to WBEs. NEI team pictured above from left: Director of Diversity and Compliance Carol Fuller, Managing Principal Joe Rettman, Compliance Manager Kassandra Martin, and Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Andre’ Barbour
NEI Named one of Boston’s Best and Brightest for Second Year In its third year, the National Association for Business Resources has named the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For® in Boston. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry, based on key measures in various categories including communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more. As a company that endeavors to keep employee needs at the forefront of its policies, NEI is thrilled to win this award. Congrats to all of Boston’s Best and Brightest Companies To Work For®!
team Marc Marcelli Gives Back Through JPNDC’s Small Contractors Mentorship Program Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation created a program in 2018 to assist small MBE and WBE contractors located in the city of Boston to succeed in business. The initiative involves giving access to seasoned industry professionals and learning formal business practices including how to submit completive bids, successfully execute work on a contract, formalize accounting systems, and more. NEI is involved in the small business pilot both as a sponsor and mentor. As a mentor, NEI Director of Northeast Construction Operations, Marc Marcelli, along with a few other volunteers from other organizations, first interview and vet candidates. If they are accepted into the program, the mentors then meet to review their business plan and eventually assist them with bidding and or estimating and try to give them some work as a subcontractor to NEI or other GCs or even a sub to a sub so they can perform commercial construction. See what Marc had to say when interviewed by JPNDC about the mentorship. NEI is a generous donor. Can you tell me why? Since a good portion of NEI’s work is working in the Boston Neighborhoods, NEI wants to give back to the Communities to help and create employment opportunities as well as encourage smaller contractors to bid, win, and execute
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING... “Although my husband and I have run our electrical contracting business for more than 10 years, it was hard to get to the “next level”-a large contract that would really allow us to grow and hire more people. I met Marc through JPNDC and he has been amazing. He really cares and it’s not just talk. He recognized how committed we were and how hard we were working with JPNDC to formalize our accounting and operations, and he guided us through the process of submitting a large bid. We got the contract and have been able to double our staff!” Marquita Kelley, Co-owner, NHK Electrical Contractors
work in their respective trades on our projects. And on a personal level, every time we finish a building that has new affordable housing, we go to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and hear the stories of people who now have a home. It feels good to be a part of that. It touches your heart. You were one of the first people to sign up as a mentor in JPNDC’s new initiative to help small contractors. What has it been like? As with everything it’s a little bit of a journey. You’re ambitious about creating employment opportunities as well as growing local contractors, but you don’t really know what you’re getting into! It’s about trying to help small businesses become bigger businesses, help people create employment and financial security for their own families and for others. When you see that you’re actually getting that result, and you see people achieving the potential that they’ve always had, it’s enriching. What makes you want to give back? I think that we all want and need to help each other. I’ve had people who’ve helped me during my construction career. I don’t know if I actually feel like a “mentor!” But I’ve had experience managing much larger jobs—Milliondollar jobs, $50 Million jobs—than a lot of small family companies, so I’m happy to provide guidance. If I can lend some of what I’ve learned in my career to other people, then I’m very happy to do that.
Photography by Michael Indrisano
cover story NEI Completes Beverly TransitOriented Mixed-Use Development NEI recently completed the $16.5 Million construction of 112 Rantoul Street, a transit-oriented mixed-use development located adjacent to the Beverly Depot commuter rail station in the heart of Downtown Beverly. The project involved the construction of a six-story, 67,000 SF podium construction building comprised of 67 residential rental units with a wood structure constructed over a steel structure housing commercial space. Now known as Holmes Beverly, this development is comprised of market-rate units and 16 workforce housing units. Of those, 14 are reserved for residents earning at or below 80% of the area median income, and two others for residents earning no more than 110% of the area median income. The apartments range from studios to two-bedrooms offering a variety of views of downtown and the waterfront with 70 parking spaces reserved in the adjacent commuter rail parking garage for residents. In addition to convenient access to the MBTA commuter rail, Holmes Beverly offers a myriad of luxury amenities and features for its residents. On the ground floor, residents enjoy a lobby featuring a fireplace, seating areas and a library as well as a telecommuting office for those working from home. A 5,000 SF space has also been reserved for a future restaurant. Out the back door, residents
with dogs can use a covered dog run. On the second floor is a full gym and yoga studio and a lounge that residents can use for gatherings in addition to a rooftop deck. All apartments are dog-friendly and feature high-end finishes like stainless-steel appliances and marble tiled showers. Units on upper levels have decks and there are Juliette balconies on the rear side of the building. NEI partnered with Barnat Development and ICON Architecture on this mixed-use development, which will help to revitalize Rantoul Street by serving the needs of both neighbors and commuters that utilize the Beverly Depot. Holmes Beverly opened to eager renters on September 1st.
Thank You to the Team! OWNER: Barnat Development ARCHITECT: ICON Architecture NEI PROJECT TEAM: PX: Chris Cormier, SPM: Marisa Somers, Sr. Supt: Grant Barnum, Asst Supt: Evan Kelley, Mike McNally, Pat McGrail, Admin: Donna Clough ENGINEERING: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection: Wozny Barbar & Associates Inc, Civil: Meridian Associates Inc, Structural: Souza True & Partners Inc INTERIOR DESIGN: Wolf in Sheep Design
Photography by Liz Cardoso
Historic Cardinal Cushing Centers Repurposed The Town of Hanover now has a new inclusive community to call home. This new development has transformed the Cardinal Cushing Centers campus in Hanover, MA, into a community now known as Bethany Apartments. The campus had supported children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through education, employment training, residential care, and other services since the late 1940s. NEI and The Architectural Team were responsible for the $9.9 Million adaptive reuse of the former dormitory at the Cardinal Cushing Centers into much needed affordable housing for the community. The Kennedy Building has been converted into 37 spacious units with a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units and the four lowest-income units have been rented with a preference for state Department of Mental Health clients. HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems have been incorporated to ensure long-term functionality of the building. The design has preserved the historic envelope of the three-story H-shaped brick building and maintained the existing structure while interior historic features also underwent careful restoration. Its chapel was converted into an open community room for residents featuring
15-foot ceilings. Other shared spaces on the property include a fitness center and a quiet reading room. Bethany Apartments is now fully occupied, fulfilling the Planning Office for Urban Affairs’ mission to help create true communities where people with a wide range of incomes and abilities can live together with dignity and respect.
Thank You to the Team! OWNER: Planning Office for Urban Affairs ARCHITECT: The Architectural Team NEI PROJECT TEAM: PX: Chris Cormier, PM: James Patch, Supt: Kurt Bonn, Asst. Supt: Pat McGrail, Admin: Grace Costa-Oliver ENGINEERING: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection: Wozny Barbar & Associates Inc, Civil: Horsley Witten Group, Historic Consultant: MacRostie Historic Advisors, LLC WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM: MassHousing, Department of Housing and Community Development, Rockland Trust, CEDAC
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