Lyman Terrace Apartments

Holyoke, Massachusetts

Originally built in 1939, Lyman Terrace is the one of Holyoke Housing Authority’s rental apartment properties. Located in downtown Holyoke, it is situated within walking distance to the Holyoke Canal Walk, Holyoke Children’s Museum, The Volleyball Hall of Fame, and Heritage Park. The 18 apartment buildings were slated for demolition in 2012 due to deterioration of the property.

But after a public input taking place during a City Council meeting in Feb 2012, residents were able to convince the City to restore this property due to its cultural and historic value.

“The demolition of Lyman Terrace would be a destruction of downtown Holyoke's architectural heritage, visual sense of place, working class history and affordable housing at a time when Holyoke's revitalization depends on preserving, rehabilitating, and capitalizing on our historic architecture and infrastructure," -City Councilor Rebecca Lisi [Source Mass Live News 02/2012].

The renovation was made possible through a partnership between the Holyoke Housing Authority, The City of Holyoke, Mass Housing Partnership, Mass Department of Housing and Community Development, and Mass Development. Holyoke Housing Authority, the City of Holyoke, and Mass Development took the lead on renovating the existing buildings in multiple phases. The most recent phase is now open and includes 72 units of the project’s total 164 units. In addition, the project adds a new Community building for additional neighborhood activities. Phase 2 was funded by a Mass Development $18M Tax Bond.

The project team included Berkshire Design Group, The Community Builders (TCB), Architecture Environment Life, Inc. (AEL), and Sherman and Frydryk Surveyor. Berkshire Design’s scope of work included Civil Engineering associated with the project: coordination with adjacent street work by Tighe and Bond, enhancing pedestrian and vehicular accessibility, coordinating a complex array of existing and new site utilities and drainage systems, as well as complex stormwater management. Berkshire Design Group is pleased to have been involved in such a transformative project for Downtown Holyoke and looks forward to more collaboration in the future.