About The Box District

The Box District neighborhood fronts on Broadway, Chelsea's main thoroughfare. The Chelsea Public Library, City Hall and the downtown area are all within walking distance along with the commuter rail and five bus routes. Bunker Hill Community College, the Senior Center, and the YMCA are all within two blocks of the Box District.

Today the Box District is a testament to the revitalization of Chelsea. After being dormant for many years, the Box District is becoming a vibrant part of the city. This time it provides market-rate and affordable condominiums and rental apartments for area residents, along with plans for new green space and parks. In 2005, Chelsea Neighborhood Developers purchased the first site to realize the vision of a residential neighborhood first conceived by the City over a decade ago. In just two years, 67 units have been constructed and there are 65 more units underway.

The first developments in the Box District feature three distinct residential components: Box Works Homes, Janus Highland Apartments and Atlas Lofts. Partial rehabilitation of the gateway commercial building located at 2 Gerrish Avenue created an improved building façade and a new owner/occupant: Chelsea Neighborhood Developers. Other physical improvements are also in planning or underway in the neighborhood, including new roads, sidewalks, lighting and trees.

The revitalization of the neighborhood is a direct result of investments made by Chelsea Neighborhood Developers, Mitchell Properties, the City of Chelsea and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In fact, The Box District is one of Massachusetts' first Smart-Growth redevelopment projects to receive funding through the Commonwealth Capital grant program, which supported both Janus Highland Apartments and important streetscape and sidewalk improvements.