Nitsch provided civil engineering and sustainable site design services to support the master plan and first phase of a project to redevelop the Saint Polycarp Church and surrounding parcels into a new, three-acre, sustainable, urban village in Somerville.
During the master planning stage, we explored sustainable concepts such as the collection and harvesting of stormwater for use within the site. As the project moved forward, Nitsch worked closely with the project team on the first of seven planned new residential/retail buildings. The first new building included 24 affordable housing units, three ground-level retail spaces, landscaped outdoor areas, and parking. With solar photovoltaic panels, a vegetated roof, bioretention areas, and many other green features, the project achieved LEED-NC Silver Certification.
Key Collaborators
Owner: Somerville Community Corporation
Architect: Davis Square Architects, Inc.