Massachusetts commercial real estate

The city’s first Smart Growth community creates new collection of apartments in Newburyport and ushers in a vibrant era for the neighborhood

The moment has arrived — the brand-new apartments at Newburyport Crossing are now leasing. For this Smart Growth community, the first of its kind in Newburyport, it signifies the most important milestone since the groundbreaking in December of 2018. Yet, it’s only the beginning of a new chapter for this neighborhood.

By spring, the first residents are slated to gain occupancy, instantly transforming the area by the MBTA commuter rail station and the Clipper City Rail Trail into the type of mixed-use, transit-oriented, walkable neighborhood that the community has so long envisioned. If there ever was a development that perfectly realized the goals of the Newburyport Master Plan, Newburyport Crossing — previously known as One Boston Way — just may be it. 

Featuring studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments in Newburyport as well as live/work and affordable units, the building will boost the city’s dwindling stock of rental apartments and create more opportunities for renters to move into the increasingly competitive local real estate market. 

In this post, we will walk you through the details of the building, take a look at how it all started, and review what’s coming up for this gateway to the city. 

First leases are inked for new apartments in Newburyport

Newburyport Crossing is impossible to miss. Rising four stories tall on the corner of Parker Street and Boston Way, it anchors this previously underutilized area along Route 1 south. You may have followed the progress yourself as it swiftly moved from heavy construction to an apartment community to call home. 

From a distance, you probably notice the clean lines and symmetrical design, inspired by the Georgian-style homes that ruled new construction in the 18th century. A closer look reveals building materials that will withstand the test of time, such as the brick base, Juliet balconies in wrought iron, and flat-plank siding so characteristic of historic Newburyport. 

While the exterior sends a nod to the city’s storied past, the interior is thoroughly modern. Upon completion this spring, Newburyport Crossing aspires to be the first building in the city to become LEED certified, a mark of quality and achievement in green building design. The environmental commitment is also manifested in the preservation of 7 acres of open space, electric vehicle charging stations, and the latest in air filtration and ventilation. 

In fact, a key objective of the Smart Growth Overlay District, which also includes a lot by Route 1 and the area around the traffic circle, is to create a green, connected community that relies less on long commutes and more on public transit and buy local. 

At Newburyport Crossing, only steps separate you from taking the train to Boston, riding your bike downtown on the rail trail, enjoying the legendary pork belly tacos at Metzy’s Cantina, and sipping the latest on tap at RiverWalk Brewing Co and Newburyport Brewing. 

And if you are, let’s say, an accountant or attorney, the live/work apartment gives your clients exterior access to a separate room and also lets you hang a “blade” sign outside to advertise your business. The longer you live here, the more often you may find yourself letting your car stay in the garage. 

Newburyport Crossing: From vision to reality

None of this happened overnight, of course. It has been nearly 8 years since MINCO Development Corp. in 2013 submitted a bid to the MBTA to purchase 11 vacant acres near the commuter rail station with the expectation that the City would follow through on its plan to establish a Smart Growth District in the area. 

MINCO President Louis Minicucci Jr., who recalls visiting his grandfather on Orange Street long before urban renewal spurred a rebirth of downtown Newburyport, has dedicated much of his career to providing housing to people from all walks of life. In Newburyport Crossing, he saw a chance to help Newburyport stay true to its working class roots while adhering to Smart Growth principles designed to combat urban sprawl in favor of walkable, vibrant communities near public transit.

The idea of revitalizing the area around the MBTA train station and Route 1 rotary has for years enjoyed broad community support. Newburyport officials have over the past few decades reaffirmed their commitment to Smart Growth and made clear they wished to replace the jumble of different uses at the entrance to Newburyport with an attractive hub of housing and retail that would fuel economic development. 

Finally, in 2016, the Planning Board endorsed Newburyport Crossing with an unanimous vote: “This project’s architecture, landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian-oriented spaces have been designed to create a livable and vibrant new center in Newburyport. The Project, once complete, will greatly enhance the character of this underutilized area.”

Two years later, the development officially broke ground, as state and local officials in attendance praised what was to come.

“This is something the city really, really needs,” Mayor Donna Holaday said at the ceremony.  

Now, as the first residents are inking lease agreements for their new apartments in Newburyport and preparing their spring moves, Newburyport Crossing closes in on the finishing line at Rail’s End as the neighborhood is increasingly known. In the meantime, MINCO is evaluating the remaining pieces of Newburyport Crossing — the adjacent parcel at 3 Boston Way and a parcel across Parker Street bordered by the rail trail and Route 1. The reimagination of this neighborhood is off to a strong start. 

Come join us. 

About Newburyport Crossing

76 apartments, including 57 market rate and 19 affordable units*

• 16 studios
• 19 one bedroom/one bath
• 33 two bedrooms/two baths
• 8 three bedrooms/two and a half baths

Amenities

• Garage parking
• In-building elevator
• Fitness center
• Dog wash station
• Communal area with Wi-Fi
• Latest in air filtration and ventilation
• Individualized air exchangers for fresh air flow in each unit
• Designed to meet Fitwell and LEED certification standards

*Leased in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the Commonwealth of MA Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Learn more at www.NewburyportCrossing.com