Modern to get Suffolk-style facelift

By Sandra Miller
Beacon Hill Times
City and Suffolk University officials and students crowded into a tent set up Friday to celebrate the official start of the $42 million redevelopment of Washington Street’s historic Modern Theatre.

In what is heralded by many as another key in the revitalization of Downtown Crossing, the Modern will enjoy the renovation of its façade, with its decrepit interior filled with a new LEED-certified, 184-seat black box theater, gallery space, and 12-story, 200-bed dorm.

The façade of the historic building will be taken apart stone by stone and sent to a masonry restoration expert before the remainder of the structure is torn down. When the residence hall/theater opens in fall 2010, it will be a completely new building with a fully restored face. Architects worked with Suffolk to design a building that will meet students’ needs, be environmentally sustainable and preserve the historic landmark. Menino also noted that the project will pursue green design and sustainability; The Modern project will use building materials recycled from a construction site.

“This is going to be a preservation project above all,” said Suffolk’s external affairs Vice President John Nucci. “This building was built with a keen awareness of sustainability.”

The Modern was built in 1876 to house two storefronts and furniture and carpet showrooms and storage. It was renovated in 1913 to accommodate the first Boston movie house, and later became a performing arts center. The last attempt to restore the building was made in the late 1970s, and has been vacant for nearly 20 years. The 4,266 square foot parcel is bounded by Washington, West, Mason and Avery Streets.

“The inside of it is really bad,” said Jane Forrestall, a member of several area task forces, including for Suffolk. “It’s was going to take someone very innovative to pull it off. I am very excited about this.”

VHB consultant Darlene Winn took little over a year to help Suffolk with the permits, a relatively easy process for this project since it didn’t involve any parking, transportation issues or aesthetics issues, she says. “Community groups will have an opportunity to use the theater. They went to the public early to figure it out. This was an easy one, since it’s a win-win for the city.”

Area residents and community activists noted that with Suffolk students comes more foot traffic downtown, along with increased security that will boost area safety.

The university’s police force will staff the building 24/7. Students living in the residence hall in the new building at the Modern and the one in the 10 West Street building will use one main entrance on West Street where a security desk will be located.

“Suffolk has a wonderful security force,” said Downtown Crossing Partnership president Rosemary Sansone, who is Suffolk’s former public affairs director. “The visibility of their officers and their vehicles is just a welcome addition to the neighborhood.”

The community asked Suffolk to explore the possibility of redeveloping the Modern after supporting their plans to purchase and develop the adjacent 10 West Street property.

MaryAnn Ponti, a Downtown Crossing Partnership member and a member of the Suffolk Task Force as well as a Washington Street resident, is also looking forward to “more culture and diversity.” Ponti has watched the area undergo a slow but steady revitalization that started with the Ritz Carlton, and the addition of hotels, a high-rise apartment, the Filenes project, and other developments. “In between it all there’s been a reawaking of the ladder streets. There’s more to come.”

Menino cited the project as key in the revitalization of downtown. “A lot of those so-called professional people say that Downtown neighborhood is dead… but the best things are to come,” said Menino, saying that the Filene’s building project will “be on again soon.”

“Soon we will be back to watching a movie at the theater,” said Menino. “You’ll see in the next couple years that Downtown Crossing will be the place to be for shopping and entertainment. We continue to have faith.”

“It is exciting to be part of the rebirth of the Downtown Crossing area,” said Sargent. “Restoring the handsome façade of the Modern Theatre will help with the continuing revitalization of Washington Street, and the new residence hall will allow more of our students to take advantage of a full residential college experience.”

Suffolk’s push for more housing is part of Menino’s emphasis on Boston universities housing their students, in order to free up apartments around Beacon Hill and other neighborhoods for families.

Suffolk president David Sargent oversaw the addition of Suffolk’s first dorm halls in the 1990s, a new law school and library, campuses in Madrid and Senegal, and soon, its 20 Somerset building.

“It is particularly sweet to (benefit the economy) and benefit our home city,” he said. Among other benefits, the project will create 120 construction jobs in a time where other area projects have slowed or even halted due to the economy.

The Modern is the last of the three Landmark theatres in this area targeted for preservation by Mayor Thomas Menino. The Opera House opened in 2004 following a $31 million restoration, and the Paramount Theatre is under construction for Emerson College, which plans a new theatre, classroom, restaurant and dorm space for the school.