BDG 23rd Edition 2020

BUILDING IN THE CITY
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!
Assemble a strong team and partner
with a builder, architect and designer
with experience building in the city.
That’s the number one tip from Jon Wardwell, President of
JW Construction, for homeowners looking to build in Boston.
JW Construction has become a fixture in the Back Bay and on
Beacon Hill (60% of their business is in the city), so we put it to
them. What does it take to build or renovate successfully here
in the Hub?
For starters, it takes a thorough understanding of permitting,
logistics, and building bylaws,” says Wardwell. A good rapport
with the inspection department and your own mill shop—to
recreate those period architectural details—doesn’t hurt either.
An exceptionally organized project manager to line up
everything from deliveries to crane details is also a must, as
is white-glove service as a courtesy to neighbors. “You’re not
only working for the owners.”
Above all, a city builder should “anticipate curveballs,” he says,
“because you know they’re coming.”
For more information on JW Construction, visit
jwconstructioninc.com or call 617-547-2800.
Photography: Matt Surette
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bostondesignguide.com