Banner Business Sponsored by The Ujima Project
At a young age, Donald Donnalson helped his stepfather with contractor work during his summers off. He always hated it back then and vowed to never go into the profession.
After earning degrees from Boston College and Northeastern University Law School, he practiced law for a number of years. But when his stepfather asked for help with contracting as an adult, Donnalson “caught the bug.” He launched Beantown Builders, Inc. in 2011, which now focuses on housing builds including multifamily conversions, redevelopment of underutilized properties, and accessory dwelling units throughout Greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts.
“There are a lot of contractors in Massachusetts, and discovering what your niche is — for any entrepreneur, but especially in this industry — is super important,” he said, adding that their housing niche is important for its impact on the community.
“Greater Boston faces significant housing affordability and availability challenges, and we think that existing properties represent an opportunity to create additional housing without always requiring entirely new developments,” he said.
Donnalson started his company with incredible personal investment. He left his role as a finance manager for Audi Natick and liquidated his 401k to jumpstart the business.
“I basically just bet on myself. I didn’t have a project. I didn’t have anything. I was just like, I’m gonna go do this because if I don’t do it now, I’m never gonna do it,” he explained.
Today his minority-owned business is addressing the need for more housing while helping dispel broader distrust of contractors.
“Seeing a company like ours in the community that’s willing to learn more, do more, take on these experiences, and fill the gap where there seems like there’s not enough of us around is a big help,” he said, later adding that, “as an MBE [Minority Business Enterprise], we’re focused on building more than a successful construction company. We’re developing the people, systems and capabilities to take on increasingly complex projects while contributing to housing opportunities, economic development and the communities we serve.”
For Director of Marketing Alicia Zuniga, their mission helps guide the work and build trust with customers. Beantown’s clients are a mix of homeowners, families and property investors.
The team “understands construction is about much more than buildings. Behind every project are people with goals, expectations and important decisions to make,” Zuniga said.
Donnalson said one of the biggest obstacles he currently faces is attracting and keeping the best talent to help on projects, which have taken the team as far south as Fall River and North Attleboro and as far north as Lynn.
They recently supported The Guild nonprofit in constructing a community-oriented urban space, turning a hillside into public green space with paths and areas to gather. Landscape architects at Landworks Studio designed the urban forest project while Beantown supported the build, including masonry and permeable paving.
“Projects like this reflect our belief that construction can do more than improve individual properties; it can also contribute to the neighborhoods and communities around them,” Donnalson said
Based on reporting by Bay State Banner.
