0 Green Line Extension Project Gets Boost

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: GreenlineExtension.eot.state.ma

Boston is home to the old subway in the county, the Green Line, which will be extended by 4.7 miles from Lechmere Station to Somerville and Medford. This opened at the end of the 19th century and was built to allow ordinary street cars to operate below ground which is dramatically different than subways of today.

The busiest Green Line stop is Park Street station, which is the intersection of the Green, Orange and Red Lines in the heart of Downtown Crossing.

Banker & Tradesman recently reported that the “U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx yesterday joined Gov. Deval Patrick and other Bay State officials to formally announce a $996 million federal grant to extend Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line light rail service from East Cambridge to Somerville and Medford…The Federal Transit Authority announced its intention to provide nearly $1 billion for the $2.3 billion project in December. State funds will cover the remaining cost.”

You can read the full article on B&T.

0 Technology is Transforming Boston Commercial Real Estate

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: analyticsweek.com

The commercial real estate industry has truly benefited from technology. I entered the industry in 2002 and from then to now is dramatically different; today I can walk down the street, open my tablet and find out what space on what floor is available in any commercial building. This was unheard of 5 years ago and only gets better with version updates of various apps. Not to mention the infusion of data, real-time analytics, and crowdfunding.

The BBJ notes “while data can’t predict the future just yet, big data can tell us the probability of future decisions, which can lead to actionable decision-making.” The article also mentions the benefit to “accredited and non-accredited investors, through a multitude of platforms, have the ability to invest in early-stage companies. What this means for commercial real estate is that everyone’s customer base broadens as fractional “ownership” increases. It also results in more capital outlets and providers for a more competitive landscape.”

You can read the full Boston Business Journal article on its website.

0 Cambridge Aims to Make Labs Greener

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Herald

How green is your Cambridge lab space? The City of Cambridge is trying to make lab space as green as possible.

“A city task force has been meeting for nearly a year to come up with a way for new buildings in Cambridge to be “net zero” to significantly reduce emissions. But some of the most energy-intensive buildings in Cambridge are biotech labs, which require a significant amount of specialized infrastructure, including high-powered ventilation systems to deal with any potentially hazardous gases,” the Boston Herald reports.

The Herald article offers a detailed look at the steps required — and planned — for Cambridge buildings to produce “zero emissions.”

0 Will Boston Restore Northern Avenue Bridge?

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Wil Catlin

We need to continue to invest in our cities infrastructure to ensure we can service both the day time and bedtime communities. Simply put, without access people will go elsewhere.

Credit: Boston Globe

The Boston Globe offered this image:

the sound you just heard was the unmistakable sloshing of preservationists paddling up Fort Point Channel coming to the rescue of a bridge that has long served as a historical gateway between the Financial District and the South Boston Waterfront. We may never get the tens of millions of dollars needed to restore the bridge, but at least we had fun dreaming about it.

0 58-Story Project on Dalton Street to Include two 4 Season’s Hotels

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Boston will be home to two 4 Season’s hotels when Carpenter is done with the 58-story project on Dalton Street.

Christian Science plaza development in Boston

Credit: Boston Business Journal

From the BBJ:

Lot 1A is set to be the site of a 58-story tower with a hotel and restaurant as well as apartments, with open space planned for Lot 1B, according to documents filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority in September 2013…a mid-rise tower is also planned on an adjacent parcel at 30 Dalton St., which an entity of Pritzger Realty Group of Chicago acquired in October for $21.9 million.

0 New ‘state of the art’ Juice and Coffee Bar coming to Kendall Square?

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Looking for a fresh new twist in Kendall? Boston.eater.com posted an article on a mysterious “Craigslist job posting for a manager of a ‘brand new state of the art juice and coffee bar,’ that offered no name, location, or opening timeline…the posting suggests a focus on ‘all natural and organic’ ingredients sourced locally.”

inside Kendall square juice bar, Mother juice

Mother Juice in Kendall, courtesy of eater.com

In the meantime, visit Mother Juice @ 625 W Kendall Street, Cambridge.

0 North Station Offices to Resemble ‘Old Boston Garden’

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Wil Catlin

rendering of North Station office development

Credit: Banker&Tradesman

Boston Properties is on the move in North Station with a $10.9 million new site at 80 Causeway Street. Boston Properties plans to build 2-million square feet including low-rise offices with a familiar facade.

Banker & Tradesman reports “new renderings by Gensler Architects show a pair of office buildings facing Causeway Street including one with oversized windows resembling the exterior of the old Boston Garden, which was demolished in 1998…Boston Properties is partnering with the Jacobs family, owners of the TD Garden and Boston Bruins, on the mixed-use project.”

You can read more on the North Station Development on B&T.

0 N2 Corridor Courting New England Israeli Business Council

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Wil Catlin

office space outside of Boston at N2 Corridor

Credit: Boston Magazine

The town of Newton recently opened its doors to welcome the New England Israeli Business Council along with Governor Patrick, who had brought the council here to Newton.

Governor Patrick, along with the Israel Business Council and many members of the Newton business community attended an invite-only event to share what Boston’s Suburban innovation district, the N2 corridor, has to offer. With large companies such as CyberArck who have rooted their corporate offices in the heart of the N2 corridor in Newton, trust this move to be both critical and beneficial for their corporations.

The Newton/Needham area boasts convenience, lifestyle and most importantly, talent.

David Goodtree, a co-host of the event last week who represented the New England Israel Business Council, stated in Boston Magazine “businesses also want to be close to other talents, whether it’s engineers or sales people, or even other executives. They need more office space, and more affordable office space…that’s where the appeal of the N2 Corridor space comes in”, Goodtree argued. “It’s a prime destination for growth stage companies”.

Additional information on the N2 Corridor is available on the Boston Magazine.

0 Suburban Office Space Outside of Boston Draws Interest

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Office building in Boston suburbs

Moving out to the burbs, who would have thought? With innovation and technology booming in the greater Boston area, Boston proper is running out of space. With arms wide open, the suburban market place is gearing up and ready to accommodate.

Posh areas have revitalized their sleepy town centers and have agreed that designating suburban land for commercial space must be done in order to utilize the real estate properly. There is a need for housing, there is a need for social adventure, and there is s definite need for space!

Northland Investment Corporations undertook this project as they saw the pressing needs and desires. Back in August, the Town of Waltham underwent a huge makeover, from its quiet town center now being primed to focus on luring the full lifestyle package changing the stereotype of the lethargic 1950’s old school, soda pop Main Street into a modern, young and vibrant center. When the development of Marc at Moody and Main began many questioned the intent, but this is a great way to bring flair and affordability, convenience, and energy into the region. Situated just 7 miles from the heart of Boston with some of the best transportation in the country, is a plus. A true live, work, play environment has been achieved. With more and more influence and expansion the burbs are not heading back to sleep.
Continue reading →

0 100 Cambridge St. Has a Buyer

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Wil Catlin

100 Cambridge St office building in Boston

Office building at 100 Cambridge Street in Boston

100 Cambridge Street has a buyer. Intercontinental is a Boston-based real estate firm that focuses on acquisitions, asset management, portfolio management, finance, development, construction management and property management.

From TheRealReporter:

“That’s what we’re hearing,” says one market observer who maintains suitors were drawn to the opportunity listed by Colliers International “in droves” for a unique 590,000-sf facility that includes commercial tenants and state agencies occupying a tower that was revamped from an aging state-occupied structure into a mix of private and public space a decade ago. The initiative has lower levels housing multiple agencies and high-rise floors leased to top-name companies including Cannon Design, a nationally known healthcare architect in 27,500 sf on Floor 14 and law firm Prince Lobel occupying the 21st and 22nd floors. American Student Assistance fills 151,000 sf on six floors and Massachusetts General Hospital is on a trio of leases expiring from April 2015 to June 2016.

Additional building details are available on the property page: 100 Cambridge Street Boston