Powered by Community
the substation powers a dynamic and warm community space by uniquely combining coworking, innovative activations, and a collaborative approach to programming.
THE SUBSTATION LIES IN THE HEART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT’S ARCHITECTURE IS ICONIC AND BOLD. LIKEWISE WE AIM TO DO A LOT WITH ALL 7100 SQUARE FEET.
Get to US
Location
The Substation is located at 4228 Washington Street, at the corner of Cummins Hwy, opposite Adams Park. Our main entrance is up the stairs on the right side of the building.
A second and accessible entrance is located through the back of the building down the ramp that is opposite the U.S. Post Office on Cummins Hwy.
BlueBikes
There’s a BlueBikes station directly outside our building.
Bicycle
If you come by your own bicycle, lock it up at one of the lollipop bike racks in front of our building as well as at other locations around Adams Park.
Public Transit
We are easily accessible via public transportation. There are nine bus lines (14, 30, 34, 34E, 35, 36, 37, 40, 50, 51) that run through Roslindale Village, most of which terminate at Forest Hills. The Roslindale Commuter Rail Station is also only a block and a half away.
Parking
We hope you’ll come to us by foot, bike, or public transit but we know that traveling by car is necessary at times. Roslindale Village has ample public parking on the street and in the 90 space Taft Hill Municipal Lot, which is just across Adams Park, next to the Roslindale Health Center. Be aware that much public parking has a posted two-hour limit. Parking is also available for a fee at the MBTA Commuter Rail lots just the other side of Roslindale Square.
Substation History
The Substation was built in 1911 as a part of a city-wide network that powered the trolley system of Boston Elevated Railway (BERy), the predecessor to the MBTA.
A since demolished coal-fired power plant in South Boston generated electricity and delivered it by alternating current (AC) through underground cables to the Roslindale Substation (along with six other similar substations), which in turn transformed the electricity to direct current (DC) for localized use by the trolleys.
The Substation was decommissioned in 1971. It lay boarded up and vacant for nearly 50 years and its redevelopment was a long, meandering process. Check out the full history of the building and its redevelopment here.
The redeveloped building has been the recipient of several grants, awards and acknowledgements.
Amelia Peabody Foundation
Henderson Foundation
Boston Preservation Alliance’s 2020 Preservation Achievement Award
Preservation Massachusetts’ Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award
National Trust for Historic Preservation feature in Preservation Magazine
The Substation’s past very much informs what we do with it today. We take seriously our role as a custodian of its unique history, and so we sought a design that would highlight as much of the original building as possible.
We are grateful for the leadership and vision of Historic Boston Inc. and Roslindale Village Main Street over the almost two-decade redevelopment process and for the Peregrine Group, the building’s developer and prior owner, for tolerating a less profitable model in order to preserve and repurpose this amazing building.
Our Team
Adam Rogoff and Laura Charles
The Substation is a project – and passion – of Adam. He fell in love with the building’s potential first as a volunteer with Roslindale Village Main Street’s Substation Redevelopment Committee. Then after seeing a few businesses leave the building he became an entrepreneur. He led the company from concept to opening, and now through expansion. He has cultivated many relationships throughout the community with over 20 years living and working in Roslindale. He is responsible for financial management and the aesthetics of Workhub and The Substation. He is particularly interested in using all aspects of the building to draw people in and engage in the space and with each other in unique ways. You’ll find much of his own woodwork and design projects throughout the entirety of the space. Adam also maintains a practice as an environmental and real estate attorney.
Contact: adam@substation.space
Laura is chiefly responsible for The Substation’s open, supportive community where people can succeed in their own work and find opportunities for collaboration, innovation and connection with other members. Laura serves as an ambassador of The Substation within the community and the facilitator of programming that enriches the environment for members and the community at large. She brings to The Substation 15 years of program design and management, and community-building experience, including 6 years of small business-focused programming and network building. Laura also works as a holistic life coach and yoga instructor.
Contact: laura@substation.space
The Substation Gallery
The Substation Gallery is located in the MAIN hallway on the lower level. It is open to the public Monday - Friday from 9AM to 5PM and features the work of local artists.
Press
Featured
