Pictured is an artist’s rendering of the revitalized exterior of the C.E Welch Building, located at 2 South Portage Street. Submitted photo

WESTFIELD — The village of Westfield is known for its rich history, especially when it comes to the Welch’s Grape Juice Co. Now, a piece of that history is on the path to being revitalized.

The C.E Welch Building, located at 2 South Portage St. on the southwest corner of South Portage Street and West Main Street in Westfield, is targeted for a historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse project that will begin later this year. The plans include the construction of 46 mixed-income apartments and commercial space for food and beverage and/or retail.

The three-story, 51,000 square foot concrete and brick building — which was built in 1909 — is part of the nationally registered French Portage Road Historic District. The building, constructed for Dr. Charles E. Welch, housed the office headquarters of the Welch’s Grape Juice Co. for decades.

Welch’s sold to a private developer in 2005, which did not proceed with rehabilitation and reuse of the building. In 2014, the Village of Westfield purchased the property.

In 2021, the village began to take proposals to redevelop the building. Savarino Companies and RANT, LLC were awarded designated developer status, and subsequently entered into a purchase agreement with the village.

The project includes 46 mixed-income residential units, including one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 500 to 1,200 square feet. In addition, 3,700 square feet of commercial space will be utilized on the ground floor, with the goal of revitalizing downtown Westfield, along with an increase in available housing in the town.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in mid-2023 after the property is officially acquired. Savarino Companies will handle the construction and management of the project.