Former Lehman Factory Demolished

Thomas Breen photo

Demolition underway at 191, 197, 199 Foster St.

After more than three years of delays, the last remaining husk of the former Lehman Brothers printing factory has been demolished — making way for 30 planned new condos and townhouse units in Goatville.

That was the scene Thursday at the long-vacant lot at 191, 197, and 199 Foster St.

A tall yellow excavator stood amidst a pile of rubble in the middle of the fenced-in 1.04-acre lot, drilling into pieces the twisted steel and concrete of the former factory building that closed its doors in 2008.

The demolition of the empty two-story industrial building marks the latest step forward in local megalandlord Ocean Managements plans to convert the site into a new four-story condominium complex with 24 two-bedroom residential units, a new three-story building consisting of six two- and three-bedroom townhouse units, and 30 on-site parking spaces.

An Ocean Management affiliate bought the former industrial property for $720,000 in 2017. 

In October of that year, Ocean representatives pitched neighbors at the East Rock Community Management Team on the condo conversion plan. In July 2018, the landlord won approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals for a special exception for a planned development unit (PDU) for 30 residential dwelling units on a 45,260 square-foot lot in an RM‑2 District. In August 2018, Ocean won site plan approval from the City Plan Commission for the new condos and townhouses. 

And after years of delays and neighbor frustrations, the Ocean affiliate pulled a $10 million construction loan from Goldman Sachs for the project last December.

Thomas Breen photo

The former Lehman factory building in December (looking north from Willow St.) ...

... now demolished, as of Thursday (looking south from Canner St).

In December, Ocean-hired project manager Melissa Saint told the Independent that the condo-townhouse development should take roughly 10 to 12 months to construct.

According to the city’s online building permit database, the Ocean affiliate first pulled a demolition permit for the site in September 2018. The city signed off on an initial round of demolition in the spring of 2019. And, as of Tuesday, the city has reopened its inspection process for this permit now that the last needed demolition is finally underway.

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