Repaired & Renewed: Ribbon Cutting Marks New Beginning for New Bedford’s Historic Talbot Apartments, with Support from BayCoast Bank
NEW BEDFORD, SWANSEA MA – An exciting new beginning is celebrated in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as the restoration of the historic Talbot Apartments, devastated by a three-alarm fire in November of 2022, is complete. The four-story residence is now set to reopen, providing much-needed affordable housing near the city’s North End.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., of the Diocese of Fall River blessed the 124-year-old building as dignitaries, city officials and community leaders attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 20th, marking a rebirth of the residence, located at 1168 Acushnet Avenue.
The renovation and preservation of the building cost $3.5 million and took about two years to complete. The multi-unit structure, known for its 19th Century Queen Anne-style architecture, is owned and managed by Community Action for Better Housing (CABH), a ministry of the Diocese of Fall River, whose mission is to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing to some of the most vulnerable members of the South Coast community.
“BayCoast Bank is proud to have provided funding support to CABH, as the organization took on the massive rehabilitation of the Talbot Apartments, restoring the building to its former splendor,” said Carl Taber, Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer for the Bank. “The newly preserved landmark will offer 26 mixed-income, single-residence units to help address the ongoing need for affordable housing in the city.”
BayCoast will offer additional support to the building’s future tenants by providing robust financial education programs in the months ahead. “We look forward to teaching financial strategies that will help empower our neighbors to manage their money with confidence, strengthening their financial well-being,” said Evelyn Ranone, First Vice President of Community Outreach and Financial Literacy Education Officer for the Bank.
CABH Executive Director Jeff Sherman said he is proud to deepen the nonprofit’s partnership with BayCoast Bank in their shared commitment to supporting Talbot’s tenants. “Our collaboration represents a meaningful step toward increasing access to vital support services, and we’re excited about the potential to expand these initiatives in the near future,” said Sherman.
Formerly known as Hotel Waverly, the Talbot Apartments are listed in the State Register of Historic Places. The restored building was originally constructed in 1901.
