The Client: The Coalition for Buzzards Bay

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a membership-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and sustainable use and enjoyment of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. The Coalition works to improve the health of the Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research, and advocacy.
The Project: Buzzards Bay Center / 114 Front Street, New Bedford

In 1984, Congress selected Buzzards Bay to be one of four estuaries in the country studied under the National Estuary Program. In 1987, the Coalition for Buzzards Bay was incorporated. For the next 23 years the Coalition worked tirelessly to improve Bay water quality, shellfish beds, and wildlife populations—all without the benefit of a permanent home. That changed in 2010, when the heralded Buzzards Bay Center opened in the historic and fully eco-renovated Coggeshall Counting House. A New Bedford landmark since 1832, its reuse constitutes the first green renovation of a historic building in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Coalition chose the adaptive reuse of a historic building over new construction so as not to further reduce the remaining open green space within the Buzzards Bay watershed. The new Center has been outfitted with green technology such as energy efficient heat pumps, solar power panels, and a vegetated green roof that absorbs up to 50% of runoff from rainfall that would otherwise pollute the Bay. Additionally, the central location and aesthetic character of the building add much needed visibility for the Coalition. Inside and out, the Center demonstrates that ecologically-sensitive development and historic reuse can be ideal partners.

The Results

The new Buzzards Bay Center has given the Coalition a high-tech and highly visible home while supporting their mission to reduce the impact of human development on the local environment. Behind the scenes, Dorfman Capital was able to secure tax credits available to developers who reuse historic buildings. “Dorfman Capital provided excellent service and pricing, and Bob Dorfman is totally aligned with our mission,” says Mark Rasmussen, president of the Coalition for Buzzards Bay. “He is a great supporter of our organization.”

“I have such a deep love of the ocean,” says Bob. “As a Cape Cod resident, I know how irreplaceable Buzzards Bay and its watershed are. The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is not only restoring an important piece of our past, they are also working to protect our future. Many federal and state tax credits and incentives go unclaimed as a result of the cost, complexity and time intensive nature of their administration, it is such a win-win for everyone to bring them to a project like this. ”

Testimonials

“Good news! Thanks for persisting and bringing matters to a successful conclusion for our $2,900,000 Rhode Island Historic Investment Tax Credit financing.” Robert H. Kuehn, Jr., President, Keen Development Corporation

“We needed people with expertise like Bob’s in order to get us through an incredibly complex financing involving Federal and State Historic Tax Credits as well as New Market Tax Credits. It is great to work with Bob.” Troy Siebels, Executive Director, Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts

“Thank you for your help with the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center’s historic tax credits. I appreciated your assistance regarding our sale of credits and found you to be helpful and reliable throughout the process.” Beryl Jolly, Executive Director, Mahaiwe Theatre