Salvation Army Breaks Ground on $5 Million Expansion

Public officials and community members gathered at the Salvation Army Boston South End Corps on Wednesday to celebrate the official groundbreaking of a that will expand the aging Washington Street facility by 40 percent.

“This is an exciting day for our community and the Boston South End and Boston Central Corps,” said Major Gregory Norman, Commander of The Boston South End Salvation Army. “Our programs have already made a difference in the lives of many children and families, and with this expansion we’ll be able to serve many more individuals and families in the years to come.”

The expansion will include a two-story addition in place of the current parking lot at the rear of the brick building. The new space will include activity rooms, a new social services wing and a new chapel to accommodate worship services. The existing structure, which hasn’t seen any major structural work since the '70s, will receive an energy efficiency upgrade to the existing gym with new windows, heating, ventilation and an air conditioning system, allowing for year-round use. An elevator will also be built to increase handicap accessibility.

Police Commissioner Edward Davis was on hand at Wednesday's ceremony to commend the Salvation Army for its efforts to decrease violence and drug activity among youth by providing them with alternatives.

Without the Salvation Army's youth diversion program, teenager Solomon Mastin might have continued to hang out on the streets. Mastin, now a junior at Morehouse College, ended up graduating from the Salvation Army's Bridging the Gap program and credits the facility with "dramatically changing his life."

Mastin, who has been featured on CNN speaking about his dramatic turnaround, celebrated Wedneday's groundbreaking along with Salvation Army employees and youth members.

Construction on the project, which will mainly take place at the rear of the building, is expected to be completed in March, 2012.