Skip to content

Hutchins Narrow Fabric Building

HISTORY

This two-story brick building was constructed in the 1890s along with the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven, & Hartford Rail Road, which spurred industrial development along its line. It was then used by the Brooks Bank Note Company. In recent years, it was used by the Massachusetts Career Development Institute until it closed in 2013.

MCDI
mcdibldg

THREAT

The vacant building was severely damaged by an arson fire in 2016, and the City spent more than a million dollars to raze and clean the southern portion of the site. The City foreclosed on the property in 2019. Per the Office of Planning and Economic Development, there are several parties interested but no firm plans for redevelopment.

LOST

This building has been demolished.  There was an opportunity for a creative developer to design a totally new use. The building could have suited to any number of adaptive reuses such as art galleries, office space, event space, and more. Click here to see some eye-opening examples of reuse and imagine the possibilities.  Think of these reuse examples for other historic building before it is to late.

Scroll To Top