Suffolk Const. breaks ground on $3.5 million recovery house project

Suffolk Construction celebrated the official groundbreaking of its Charlestown Recovery House project with Boston mayor Thomas Menino, the Charlestown Recovery House board of directors and local government officials. The new building will provide a safe haven for men recovering from alcohol and drug addictions. The facility will also provide counseling and assistance in finding long-term housing and employment opportunities. Suffolk provided preconstruction services pro bono and is constructing the $3.5 million facility at cost. "This house is about helping people, especially those forgotten by everyone else," said Menino. "This will truly be a house of hope." The idea for a recovery house was initially conceived in 1993. The Charlestown Recovery House board of directors was formalized in 1997 and worked for 10 years to secure funding, identify a usable parcel the city, and complete zoning and permitting requirements. The new 25-bed recovery facility will cover 10,650 s/f adjacent to the Tobin Bridge. The project owner is Charlestown Recovery House, Inc. and the architect on the project is Woodbrier Associates, Inc. Construction is scheduled for completion in just six months for occupancy in the spring of 2008.