*Assuming typical floor-to-floor height of 10 feet two inches.
Massachusetts defines a high-rise building as one that is 70 feet above ground,
measured to the roof.
In a 40,000 square-feet building with ground-floor commercial, this will accommodate 40 housing units*
International building code sets that
threshold at 75 feet above ground,
measured to finished floor level.
Adding even one extra floor would allow for a 49,000 square-feet building with ground-floor commercial and 49 housing units*
GWEN EGAN/HEATHER HOPP-BRUCE/GLOBE STAFF
SOURCE: Colin Booth/Stack + Co.; Building image courtesy Utile, Boston Indicators, and the Joint Center for Housing
