18 & Union Receives 2025 Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award

18 & Union, New Bedford

Preservation Mass is pleased to announce that 18 & Union in New Bedford is the recipient of a 2025 Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award.

The 18 & Union project at the entrance to New Bedford’s historic downtown core involves the substantial rehabilitation of two historic sites: The National Club and C.E. Beckman Co. Inc. Buildings. Situated across from the State Pier on the corner of Union Street and JFK Boulevard along route 18 in New Bedford, this remarkable development is giving new life to several historical properties in the Union Street area.

This adaptive historic re-use project encompasses 43,230 sf and is designed for 28 market rate apartment/loft style housing. This significant development program repurposed three historically relevant buildings in the downtown area of New Bedford, including the revitalization of 13-19 Commercial St., a wood-frame building previously owned by Beckman Marine Supply that is one of the oldest buildings in the historic district, and the Granite Building located at 21-35 Commercial St., which was the home of Beckman Marine Supply until 2021. Also included in the project is The National Club building on the corner of Union and Front streets. The historic fishermen’s bar, which has sat vacant for more than a decade, is in the middle of a transformation into an upscale Mexican restaurant that is set to open in the Spring 2025.

The project was possible through city and state funding along with private investments. Additionally, the project received Historical Tax credits due to its salvaging of the existing façade of the wood structure, originally built in the 1700’s. The wood and granite were restored during construction to preserve the historic aesthetic of the district. The associated historic designations include the National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic District.

In the Granite Building, an extension of Marine Supply, the existing wood columns, beams, and joists of the ceilings, as well as the granite walls, were all restored during construction to preserve the historic aesthetic. The existing windows and exterior doors were also restored during this process. The design retained the existing lofty ceilings in the Granite and National buildings.

The wood building (sail loft) at Marine Supply was demolished and rebuilt in the original profile of the front wall of the wood building giving the façade its iconic shape supported structurally throughout construction and the new framing was integrated into the structure, saving the ‘bones’ of the historic building

The National Club (Brick Building) the historic fishermen’s bar sat vacant for more than a decade. Construction included repointing the existing brick façade and new historic aesthetic steel windows to match the profiles of the existing. The doors on the front were restored and repainted with all glass replaced. The floors were removed and replaced with heavy timber tongue and groove plank flooring, and two additional apartment units were constructed on the second floor. The fit-out of the restaurant is currently underway.