Somerville’s housing scene includes a number of buildings that were never originally meant to house residents. Many of the Somerville apartments available today can be found inside old mills, warehouse spaces, industrial facilities, and former public buildings that once served completely different roles. These structures were part of the city’s working identity, tied to production, shipment, storage, and education. Instead of being demolished, many were adapted to hold new housing while still keeping visual traces of their earlier life.
Table of Contents
Former Cold Storage and Distribution Sites Set the Tone for Industrial Housing
This amazing city once relied on cold storage and distribution facilities to move goods throughout the region. Many of these buildings were large, rectangular structures with reinforced frames designed to support heavy transport work. Today, some Somerville apartments are inside these former storage facilities. Their high ceilings, wide central corridors, and exposed industrial details are a direct result of their original function. Instead of hiding the past, these buildings keep parts of their structure visible, giving housing a modern industrial look.
Old Envelope and Paper Manufacturing Buildings Converted into Apartments
The area’s industrial history included envelope production from companies like the former Ames Envelope Factory. These buildings once housed machinery, packing rooms, and loading bays built for large-scale mailing supply output. When adapted into housing, the original brick exterior and long window lines were preserved. Inside, units created in these structures reflect the footprint of an industrial floor plan rather than a typical residential layout. The straight lines and factory-era framing remain part of the building’s character even after conversion.
Textile and Machine Works Buildings That Still Shape Interior Layouts
Before residential conversions, parts of Somerville hosted textile-related machine works and metal fabrication sites. These industrial buildings were designed for function, with large support beams, long interior rows, and minimal decorative features. When turned into housing, many of those utilitarian characteristics remained. Spaces inside these buildings often follow long, open layouts that match the shape of the original work areas. These converted housing units show a noticeable difference from standard construction because their form still reflects their factory-era structure.
Former Public School Buildings Repurposed into Residential Units
Some housing in Somerville now sits inside former public-school buildings built during the early 20th century. These buildings were designed with wide stairwells, tall windows, and high-ceilinged hallways to accommodate classroom movement and community use. After their educational role ended, some were adapted into residential layouts. While updated for housing, these structures still carry institutional details, giving the dwellings inside a floor plan that traces back to their role in public service rather than industrial production.
Brick Factory Shells Keep Somerville’s Industrial Past in Full View
Brick-front factory buildings once used for small-scale manufacturing still appear throughout the city. Rather than removing these structures, several were reinforced and adapted for housing. The exterior often remains almost fully intact, with brick patterns, loading outlines, and metal-framed windows that make their past clear. Inside, the living spaces sit within the same footprint the factory once used. These Somerville apartments stand out because they keep their original industrial shell visible, setting them apart from newly built residential developments.
Warehouse-Style Conversions Add Variety to Somerville Apartments
Smaller warehouse buildings used for local storage and light trade also became candidates for housing conversion. These buildings tend to be straightforward in appearance, focusing on long spans and clean structural lines. When adapted into residential rentals, they offer simple, open interior layouts that reflect the practical nature of the original warehouse design. They do not rely on decorative features but instead keep the plain industrial framework, which gives them a clear visual link to Somerville’s production-era identity.
A Few Interesting Statistics
According to Boston Pads Real-Time Rental Market Data, the average rent for all unit types is $3,651 per month. That’s 0.79% lower than 12 months ago, and 4.67% higher than 24 months prior. The median days on market is seven (7) days, 3 days less than a month ago, and 20 days lower year-over-year. The current Real-Time Availability Rate (RTAR) is 1.40%. A year ago it was 1.49%. The Real-Time Vacancy Rate (RTVR) is now 0.92%. However, that figure was 0.87% 12 months prior.
Why These Building Types Keep Somerville Apartments Distinct Today
Many cities replace older buildings when new housing is built, but Somerville often reuses structures that once served a working role in the city. By keeping the outer shells and adapting the interiors, these conversions carry the area’s history forward into the present. Somerville apartments located inside these mills, warehouses, factories, and former schools show a different character compared to standard construction. Their shape, materials, and layout still reflect the purpose they once served, keeping the city’s industrial and civic past visible in its housing landscape today.
