Midwood Investments breaks ground on 36,531 s/f One Milk St.

Boston, MA Mayor Martin Walsh, members of the Downtown Crossing Business Improvement District (BID), and neighborhood residents joined Midwood Investment & Development to ceremoniously mark the groundbreaking of the the One Milk St. restoration project. 

Located on the corner of Washington and Milk Sts., One Milk St. is located in the “Newspaper Row”, consisting of two buildings: The Franklin Building and The Transcript Building. The project is a 36,531 s/f mixed-use renovation which will involve complete restoration of the Transcript and Franklin Buildings, which were previously connected via an infill building.

The Franklin building previously housed the Boston Post newspaper until 1905, and is also known as the site of Benjamin Franklin’s birth.  The Transcript building was home to the Boston Evening Transcript, and was reconstructed after the Great Boston Fire of 1872.  Throughout it’s history, Newspaper Row hosted The Boston Globe, Boston Evening Transcript, Boston Herald, Boston Traveller, Boston Journal, Boston Post, and The Associated Press.

Today the buildings consist of six stories of commercial space above grade, one story below grade and retail at street level. The renovation will create new storefronts along Washington and Milk Sts., a new curtain wall on Milk St., and upgrades to the mechanicals such as new elevators and fire protection.

“I want to thank Midwood for restoring these iconic building that are helping us preserve our history for years to come,” said mayor Walsh. “We are excited to see this great space activated as the downtown area continues to transform, and I thank Midwood for investing in the historic character of our city and for being a great partner to Boston.”

“One Milk sits amidst the Downtown Crossing & Washington St. Corridor resurgence, and we are lucky to be surrounded by the expansion of a variety of retail options, new residences and mixed-use developments.” said John Usdan, CEO of Midwood Investment & Development. “Buildings downtown should maintain strong identities, but still embrace the pedestrian experience and the neighborhood surrounding it.”

 “Shawmut is honored to contribute to Boston’s thriving Downtown Crossing neighborhood with the renovation and repositioning of One Milk St.,” said Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction. “Our team excels at the challenge of preserving iconic and historic buildings, while incorporating modern elements that today’s businesses require.”