Paying Homage to Local History: Maynard’s Coolidge School Renovated and Restored for Apartment Housing

MAYNARD — As Maynard residents pass by 12 Bancroft St., they will see the old Coolidge School building, but reimagined.

The local landmark, originally built in 1906, has been vacant for the past 35 years. The Town of Maynard sought to utilize and redevelop the space while paying homage to its historical roots. 

In 2019, the Town selected Civico, a community-focused real estate investment and development group, to assist in the redevelopment of the property.

Over the next several years, Civico began predevelopment work: navigating local zoning and permitting, developing plans in partnership with the Town, and assembling financing. This included a variety of public and private funding sources, with major support from MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program, the Maynard Affordable Housing Trust, and federal and state historic tax credits. Clinton Savings Bank provided construction financing, and MassDevelopment provided bridge financing.

Through collaboration with MacRostie Historic Advisors, now Ryan LLC, and support from the Maynard Historical Commission, Civico secured state and federal historic tax credits, which were necessary to maintain the historic integrity of the old Coolidge School. Civico also agreed to grant a local preservation restriction to ensure the preservation of the historic integrity of the structure. 

The school is also eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for its association with the development of Maynard’s educational system, expanded in response to the growth of the local textile mill industry. The School is also eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of Classical Revival style scholastic architecture, originally designed by former Boston City Architect Charles J. Bateman, with the second-story addition designed by John Ashton of the locally and regionally significant firm of Ashton & Huntress. The school was submitted for nomination in November 2021 and has received Part 2 approval, which certifies that the planned renovation is compliant with their requirements, and will receive Part 3 approval upon completion of construction.

In 2024, the development partners broke ground. The building project included 12 residential units, three of which will be affordable units.

Maintaining the current structure, including retaining key architectural elements such as the brick façade, separate boys’ and girls’ staircases, chalkboards and large classroom-style window openings, was a top priority throughout construction. Eight new public parking spaces have been added for visitor use, granting access to Coolidge Park Playground and the adjacent hill, which residents enjoy in the winter for sledding.  

“On behalf of the Town of Maynard, I wish to thank Civico for their diligent and extensive work to not only redevelop the old Coolidge School, but also maintain a prominent part of the Town’s history. This newly renovated apartment housing will be a wonderful addition to our growing community,” said Town Administrator Greg Johnson.  

“We are honored to have been chosen by the Town of Maynard to bring this beloved community landmark back into active use. After 35 years of vacancy, transforming the historic Coolidge School into quality housing while preserving its architectural heritage required patience and collaboration. This project exemplifies what’s possible when a community comes together—from Town leadership and residents to our financing partners at MassDevelopment, Clinton Savings Bank, and others—all united around the shared vision of honoring the past while building for the future.” – Taylor Bearden, Partner, Civico

For more information on the history of the Coolidge School, please visit the Maynard Historical Society archives here. 

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