Old South Boston bank would become new South Boston courthouse - and apartments

Two developers have filed plans to convert the old South Boston Savings Bank at 460 West Broadway, which already sort of looks like a courthouse, into a new home for South Boston Municipal Court - with 20 apartments in a vertical addition out back.

In their plans, filed with the Boston Planning Department, David Winnick and David Matteo of the Cedarwood Group say their business in the front, party in the back design would mean state of the art administration of justice to replace the current aging South Boston courthouse and 20 apartments in "an attractive and energy-efficient mid-rise building." 

The first three floors would be for court use, the top three floors for the apartments under their proposal, which would keep the columns that are equally at home fronting an old-school bank or courthouse.

The building would have 21 parking spaces in an underground garage - 4 in doubled-up tandem spaces - for residents, but none for judges, court officers, lawyers and plaintiffs and defendants, save for a "sallyport" in which criminal defendants could be transported to an from jail.  The garage entrance would be on Athens Street; the apartments would have a pedestrian entrance separate from the court's.

The apartments would be split between 15 two-bedroom apartments, 4 one-bedroom units and one studio; residents would have access to a sixth-floor "amenity room" and roof deck. Their filing does not specify the number of affordable units, but says it will comply with the city's requirements, which would mean four units.

The courthouse would be equipped with two court rooms, along with court offices and a lobby.

Cedarwood hopes to begin nearly two years of construction on their $23-million project by the end of this year.

460 West Broadway filings and meeting/comment schedule.