The property at 491 Dutton St. in Lowell, Massachusetts, could have been lost to history if it wasn’t for John DeAngelis’ vision to redevelop the old factory building into modern condos while preserving its roots in the American Industrial Revolution.
Built in 1880 as a textile mill, 491 Dutton had been home to the American Textile History Museum from 1960 until the institution closed in June 2016 due to financial difficulties. Yet even before the museum closed its doors, DeAngelis began purchasing the building floor by floor.
It began with the upper floors that had been used for storage being renovated into luxury residential condos. When the museum shuttered, DeAngelis purchased the rest of the building, and transformed two more floors into condos, creating a total of 65 residencies.
DeAngelis then began the development of the Kitson Business Center, including a new Middle Eastern restaurant and office space aimed at attorneys desiring proximity to the Lowell Justice Center located across the street. Commercial prices per square foot eventually set city records.
During development, DeAngelis unearthed numerous historical items that now hang in the building’s hallways and units. He also worked closely with the city to preserve the building’s historical nature, including the selection of paint, windows, and other alterations with historical precedence.
In a nod to the building’s previous life, many historical discoveries were included in the creation of a Lowell historical museum within the business center that attracts many visitors. It’s one reason 491 Dutton has played an outsized role in Lowell’s renaissance and its status as an example of luxury urban living and office space.
The project has been selected as a 2024 CoStar Impact Award winner for redevelopment of the year for Boston, as judged by a local team of real estate professionals familiar with the market.
About the Project: A significant portion of collections from the American Textile Museum, including the Osborne Library, were transferred to the Cornell University Library. The Osborne Library comprises a premier collection of more than 90,000 textile-related books, manuscripts, prints, maps, photographs, cloth labels, trade literature and serial publications.
What the Judges Said: 491 Dutton “stands as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful redevelopment, breathing new life into one of Lowell's most iconic buildings and igniting a renaissance that has reverberated throughout the city and beyond,” Stephanie Dunlin, senior director of real estate for Greystar, said. The project “has become a beacon of historical preservation and cultural enrichment.”
They Made it Happen: The developer was John DeAngelis of Earth Realty. Rainer Koch of Koch Architects was the project’s architect. Demetrius Spaneas of Land and Sea Real Estate served as the broker.