 |
The L. Greif & Bro. Inc. Manufactory after rehabilitation, 2008
The L. Greif & Bro. Inc. Manufactory in 2008, completed interior space
Window detail, 2008 |
Adaptive Reuse for Community Services
|
|
LOCATION |
Baltimore, Maryland |
|
DATE BUILT |
ca. 1914-1915 |
|
DEVELOPER |
Historic East Baltimore Community Action |
|
COMPLETION DATE |
December 2007 |
|
TOTAL REHABILITATION COST |
$9 million |
|
FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDITS |
Approximately $1.8 million |
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Historic factories are generally good candidates for adaptive reuse and can be easily converted into commercial space. Their open floor plans allow for flexibility to accommodate the modern office layout needs of a variety of commercial tenants.
MacRostie Historic Advisors LLC served as the historic tax credit consultant for the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition, Inc. (HEBCAC) in the rehabilitation of the L. Greif & Bro., Inc. clothing factory. The rehabilitation provided space on each of the building's three stories for use by several tenants. As a former factory in a major city's residential area, rehabilitation of the Greif factory was a key component of an overall revitalization effort for the surrounding neighborhood, which had suffered from years of neglect.
The project included both exterior and interior rehabilitation and restoration work. Work consisted of selective re-pointing of brick where necessary and for the restoration of the existing metal cornice. Windows were replaced as necessary and entrances were retained and refurbished. The first floor retained its predominantly open plan space with steel columns and original height ceilings throughout. The second and third floors have been partitioned to accommodate several large tenant spaces off a single-loaded corridor. Individual tenant spaces are mainly open plan space with steel columns and full height ceilings visible throughout.
MacRostie Historic Advisors worked closely with the project team to develop a scope of work compatible with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. MacRostie Historic Advisors also prepared and submitted the required documentation for the factory's listing in the National Register of Historic Places and secured approvals for both federal and state historic tax credits from the State Historic Preservation agency (Maryland Historical Trust) and the National Park Service.