District Square: From Crumbling Parking Deck to 394 Homes Reshaping Downtown Haverhill

Downtown Haverhill is undergoing its largest redevelopment in history. District Square, a $160 million project by SV+Partners, Trax Development, and Lupoli Companies, is transforming five acres into 394 apartments, 20,000 square feet of retail, and a 660-space parking garage. EMBARC leads design along with MDLA and H+O Structural Engineering.

From Failed Parking Deck to New Housing

The Herbert H. Goecke Jr. Memorial Parking Deck, long plagued by structural failures, has been demolished. In its place, District Square will rise with three residential buildings, 27,000 square feet of amenities, and structured parking. State and local incentives include $1.6 million in property tax relief over 20 years.

Turning Underused Land into Density and Life

District Square addresses the regional housing shortage by reusing underutilized land. The three buildings are organized around a central public plaza, activating Merrimack Street with ground-floor retail and restaurants. MDLA’s landscape design manages grade changes between Park Way and Merrimack Street, connecting the elevated amenity terrace and pool to the plaza below.

Keeping Downtown Open While Building Up

The project sequencing prioritizes parking capacity. A new 660-space precast garage is being built before the residential structures, ensuring uninterrupted downtown parking. Temporary spaces were added during demolition to support local businesses. When it is completed in late 2025, the garage will serve both residents and the public, linking commercial and residential uses.

"It was $500,000 saved on a $24M project. That is real money, right?"
- Dave Traggorth, Causeway Development

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Economic Spark for Downtown Haverhill

District Square will bring hundreds of new residents into the heart of the city, adding steady foot traffic to downtown businesses and energizing the local economy. By combining nearly 400 apartments with ground-floor retail and restaurants, the development creates daily activity that supports shops, services, and dining along Merrimack Street. The central public plaza is designed to host seasonal uses and community events, anchoring the east edge of the city center with a lively gathering place.

The architecture reflects EMBARC’s vision for this stretch of downtown Haverhill. The master plan organizes three residential podium buildings around the plaza, linking Merrimack Street to Park Way while framing views toward the Merrimack River. Formal street-facing elevations reference the city’s historic factory buildings, while interior courtyards introduce more expressive design animated with balconies. Together, these choices mend the urban fabric and establish a new landmark that strengthens connections across the district.

Partnerships Driving the Largest Project in City History

Public-private collaboration is central to District Square. The 20-year Tax Increment Financing agreement, $6.6 million MassWorks grant, and Pentucket Bank’s relocation all contributed to unlocking the site. Public input sessions guided the plaza design, ensuring it reflects community priorities for programming and pedestrian connections.

Construction Momentum and Phased Delivery

Demolition of the parking deck began in May 2024. By June 2025, the new 660-space garage reached its structural topping-off milestone, with interior buildout underway and completion expected later this year. In August 2025, the project secured a $3 million state Housing Development Incentive Program credit to support the first phase of 124 apartments. The phased delivery allows each building to proceed with market conditions while maintaining momentum. Former Mayor James Fiorentini called it “the biggest and best project ever to come to the City of Haverhill.” Design of the three buildings is well underway.

A Playbook for Gateway City Redevelopment

District Square shows how obsolete infrastructure can become a catalyst for growth. By combining housing, retail, and civic space, the development strengthens Haverhill’s downtown fabric. For developers and architects, it highlights proven strategies: phased construction, strong partnerships, and early solutions for parking and access.

Large-scale multifamily and mixed-use projects succeed when budgets and risk are controlled. With data-driven structural design, H+O helps align structural decisions with project goals for more predictable delivery. Contact H+O to capture measurable savings on your next project.