Q&A: CC&F’s John Sullivan Discusses Development During COVID-19

Delivering multifamily projects on time is always a tall task, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has introduced even more obstacles to get to the finish line for developers.

Connect Media caught up with John Sullivan, executive vice president at Boston-based commercial real estate firm Cabot, Cabot & Forbes (CC&F) to discuss the challenges of completing projects during the ongoing pandemic.

Q. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down a number of residential projects in the Boston area. Can you talk about how the team at CC&F has proceeded on projects through this difficult time?

A. At the start of the pandemic, CC&F had numerous Greater Boston projects underway in various stages of the development process. Each project has been impacted in different ways, depending on where in the process the project stood. The Overlook in Brighton was scheduled to deliver its first phase of units just as the citywide construction shut down went into effect. Therefore, the shutdown pushed out the entire project by a few months. At our Kilmarnock Street project in Fenway, we were in the design process, so the pandemic only minimally affected our progress, with a team transition to virtual meetings. We have other projects that are currently working through the entitlement process, and each was slowed in different ways, depending on the timing and handling of public hearings within each community. Each project has required adjustments, but we’ve found the key to success is continued communication and relationship-building, both with the municipalities where we work, and with our project teams.

Q. Your recently delivered project at the former St. Gabriel’s Monastery & Church looks like a tremendous undertaking. How did you manage to combine the historic elements at the property with modern multifamily features?

A. The St. Gabriel’s project is like no project CC&F has been involved with before. The site is nearly 12 acres and came with the “goals” of both restoring an abandoned monastery and church and preserving three acres of open space. It was important to the neighborhood and other stakeholders that the historic portions of the site be retained in an appropriate way and incorporated into the master plan of the project. St. Gabriel’s Monastery is a city of Boston Landmark. Adjacent to the monastery is the St. Gabriel’s church, which, while not landmarked, was seen by many as an important building that should be retained. As one of the only remaining examples of Mission-style architecture in Boston, we wanted to ensure that the property’s history remained, and its grandeur was emphasized in our renovation. This is not a typical project, and we relied on the expertise of architect BH+A for restoration portion of the project. The development team has invested significantly in restoring elements of the building’s original grandeur while creating contemporary residences with timeless accents and unique floor plans. Four new buildings were also designed, complimenting the church and monastery with regards to massing, architecture, and placement on the site to create an overall, cohesive master plan.

St. Gabriel’s Monastery, now called Overlook Landmark, opened in April and is comprised of 27 apartment homes. The restored St. Gabriel’s church, now called Maker Hall, will deliver later this summer and will feature a fitness center; café; gathering spaces for coworking and socializing; private conference rooms; areas for games such as pool and shuffleboard; and community space. Elements from the original church, such as its vaulted ceilings, terrazzo flooring, artisanal flourishes, and stained glass, remain incorporated into the design.

Q. What is your outlook on multifamily developments going forward? Are all of your projects full-steam ahead?

A. At present, all of CC&F’s projects are full-steam ahead. The fundamental focuses of CC&F in the Greater Boston market – the development of lab and multifamily/mixed-use residential – still remain strong. Boston continues to maintain a high barrier to entry into the market, and CC&F continues to serve as a local partner who can find opportunities in a challenging real estate environment. In recent months, we’ve seen that opportunities still exist, and we are moving forward, continuing to identify opportunities in our core market segments.

*Pictured above: A rendering of CC&F’s Overlook Landmark project in Brighton.

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