The Charlestown Navy Yard Rowhouses houses 50 units of affordable residences built on the edge of Boston Harbor. Developed by a nonprofit housing corporation, Charleston Navy Yard addresses the family housing needs of first time home-buyers while resolving the difficult intersection of the urban street grid and the water’s edge.

By being responsive to its setting without merely replicating the historical 19th century forms of the Navy Yard, the design strives to remove the stigma that so often burdens affordable housing. The building's design responds to three distinct urban conditions of the site: 1) the design strengthens First Avenue as the main street of the Navy Yard; 2) the site calls for a linear building perpendicular to the water; 3) the building celebrates its end at the water's edge. These three parts of the building are unified by special masonry elements, including the brick water table (with its shadow-creating saw-tooth detailing), and the granite checkerboard pattern which acts as a "belt" to tie the forms together.

The sale prices of the townhomes ranged between $67,500 (one bedroom) to $102,500(four bedroom)in comparison to surrounding comparable private market townhomes at over $500,000.

Support household and neighborhood fit:

The building’s design reflects and responds to three distinct urban conditions of the site:

1. The design strengthens First Avenue as the main street of the Navy Yard: The form and frontality of the large gable end of Building One establish an appropriate scale for this major street and reflects the importance of strong, two-sided streets running parallel to the water’s edge in this urban waterfront setting.

2. The site calls for a linear building perpendicular to the water: Building Two expands on the pattern of linear buildings in the Navy Yard with a series of stacked townhouses along Thirteenth Street. The two cross-gables with arched doorways modulate the street wall and denote larger townhouse units.

3. The building celebrates its end at the water's edge: The cylindrical tower, an essential seacoast form, terminates the row and resolves the geometry of the street and the boardwalk/water’s edge.

The dwelling units are designed with similar attention. Each pair of stacked townhouses allows the lower unit to have a private yard at grade, while the upper unit has its own 150 s.f. deck. The upper units feature 10'-8" high ceilings in the kitchen/dining/family room spaces, and the French balconies overlooking Thirteenth Street. Many units contain a large children's room, designed so it may be divided into two separate rooms by the owner.

Meet high aesthetic standards:

The three parts of the building (described above) and its materials and details give Charleston Navy Yard its strong visual character.

The three building sections are unified by special masonry elements, including the brick water table (with its shadow-creating saw-tooth detailing), and the granite checkerboard pattern which acts as a “belt” to tie the forms together.