130 Broadway as it looks today. - Photo by Ashley Taylor

By Ashley Taylor

A museum-quality custom archival framing company, PSG Framing, is moving from South Boston to Somerville and situating itself in the area of Broadway slated for remodeling through the East Broadway Streetscapes project.

The streetscapes project will renovate the street itself: sewers, sidewalks, and bike lanes.  Those changes, in turn, are expected to draw businesses and customers to what is expected to be a more pedestrian-friendly area. PSG Framing is one such business.

“The streetscape project played a significant factor in choosing 130 Broadway,” said Michael d’Hemecourt, of Harborlight Advisors, the real estate consulting firm managing the project for PSG, “as it will provide retailers the infrastructure for long-term success.”

PSG purchased 130 Broadway on April 25 with a  $3.5 million loan from MassDevelopment, a state agency that promotes economic growth as both a lender and a developer. According to a press release from Harborlight Advisors, the loan is for both acquisition and renovation of the building. On May 4, they broke ground on a renovation and, d’Hemecourt said, construction should be finished this fall.

An architect’s rendering of the renovated building.

D’Hemecourt provided some history of 130 Broadway. “It was originally built for Broadway Chevrolet in the 1920’s, so it was an automotive dealership.  And then most recently, it was occupied by a company called Melotone, which is a vending machine company, and they didn’t use the building as a retail operation; they used it to store and repair their machines.  And they covered the whole building up with this ugly black EFIS [exterior covering similar to stucco].  So they let the building be vacant for about four years since they left.”

Outside, the building is still covered in black, but inside, the renovation is underway.

PSG and Harborlight Advisors are restoring the historic brick façade and glass storefronts of 20,000 square-foot building, working with architectural firm LÓNdesign.

PSG will occupy the back of the building. In front, the glass panes that once displayed cars will display the wares of retail tenants, identity to be determined.

“There’s actually really good interest in the space,” d’Hemecourt said.  “We haven’t locked up anyone yet.  We’re still trying to decide on the ideal tenant mix in the front there. But it’ll be a nice neighborhood type of retailer.”

Unions, community groups, and elected officials have pushed for local and union labor on recent construction projects and development plans. D’Hemecourt said in an e-mail that, “It is our plan to use union labor for the retail storefronts along Broadway.” PSG and Harborlight Advisors have hired New England Construction as contractor for the project.

East Broadway Streetscapes is a city initiative to redesign East Broadway from Garfield Ave to the Boston/Somerville line.  Design Consultants Inc. has already submitted and received feedback from Massachusetts Department of Transporation (MassDOT) on what are called the 75-percent design plans for the project.  According to city planner Monica Lamboy, the city would like to submit 100-percent design plans, or construction-ready drawings, to the MassDOT this August.

In the Harborlight Advisors press release, Mayor Curtatone expressed his optimism for East Broadway:  “PSG Framing is getting in early on what we think is going to become one of the hottest areas in metro Boston in the coming decade.”