Newton, MA — Erland Construction, in collaboration with CUBE 3, has begun work on two residential projects within Pattern District, Northland’s 23-acre mixed-use redevelopment in Newton Upper Falls. Together, the projects will deliver 220 apartment homes through the historic restoration of the Saco Pettee Mill and the construction of a new mixed-use residential community.
The first project is the adaptive reuse of the historic 173,000-square-foot Saco Pettee Mill into 100 luxury apartment homes. Restoration will follow National Park Service standards and include masonry repointing, historic window replacement, and preservation of the building’s brick-and-beam character, along with new MEP-FP systems, roof replacement, structural reinforcement, and a full interior fit-out. Residents will have a wellness suite, fitness center, lounge, and game room.
Erland is also constructing Building 4, a new 240,000-square-foot, 120-unit mixed-use residential community with future ground-floor retail opening onto the Village Green common area. Designed to Passive House and LEED certification standards, the building will incorporate a post-tensioned concrete structure supporting below-grade parking and on-grade retail, topped by a steel-framed residential structure.
Upon completion, Pattern District will provide 822 rental homes, including 145 affordable units, along with retail, open space, and community amenities. The development is poised to become one of the largest privately funded Passive House communities in the United States.
“Pattern District represents the type of project that excites our team—a development that combines historic preservation, sustainable design and construction, and long-term community impact,” said Ben McConchie, corporate and commercial group manager at Erland. “We are proud to partner with Northland and CUBE 3 to help bring this vision to life and contribute to the continued transformation of Newton Upper Falls.”
“Pattern District redefines what a thoughtful, responsible development looks like in the 21st century,” said Lawrence R. Gottesdiener, founder and chairman of Northland. “We’re not just building housing—we’re creating a village that honors history, fosters connection, and sets a new standard for sustainable living, underpinned by walkability and green space. We are proud to partner with Erland Construction to bring this vision to life.”
Building 1 and Building 4 are Erland’s second and third projects with Northland.
Pattern District Building 1
