0 Boylston St. Company Constructs ‘Fun’ Work Environment

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Office and work space in Boston continues to evolve to meet the needs of contemporary companies, with additional consideration given to functional atmospheric elements to complement the core layout.

Located on Boylston Street, ZeroTurnaround — a Java productivity tools maker — is one of a number of companies in Boston to design its workspace to match its progressive attitude. In a Boston Herald article about the company’s “fun” work environment, author Ira Kantor describes the company’s Back Bay HQ, “as music fills the C-shaped, 5,500-square-foot space, employees feed off that energy as they start cranking out global phone calls.”

0 Former Jae’s Restaurant in Boston’s Theatre District Set for Demolition

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Photo Credit: Boston Business Journal

The street scape continues to change with the scheduled demolition of 212 Stuart Street. The Back Bay office vacancy rate is at a record low at just under 5 percent, will the ownership push for office or residential?

A Boston Business Journal article quotes the Bay Village Neighborhood Association, stating, “nearly four years after the Boston Redevelopment Authority approved conversion of the shuttered Jae’s restaurant into a 10-story office building in Boston’s Theater District, the property is on track to be demolished.”

Jump over to the BBJ online to read the full report.

0 Back Bay Restoration Hardware Seeks Beer/Wine License

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Wil Catlin

234 Berkley Street location for Restoration Hardware

Photo Credit: Boston Business Journal

The scaffolding has been taken down and Restoration Hardware is scheduled to open its new Back Bay location next month at 234 Berkley Street. Having vacated 711 Boylston Street a number of years ago, Restoration Hardware is looking to not only sell sheets, towels and hardware, but the Back Bay location also hopes to offer beer and wine as part of their café.

The Boston Business Journal reports that “the California-based retailer will go before the Boston Licensing Board on Wednesday seeking a beer and wine license for a proposed 118-seat restaurant on three levels. Located in the 19th-century Boston building that once housed the New England Museum of Natural History and LouisBoston, the store is set to open next month.”

To read more about the Back Bay Restoration Hardware’s push for a beer and wine license, continue on to the Boston Business Journal. Alternatively, click through to view available property for lease in the Back Back.

0 Fidelity’s Financial District Office Space On the Market

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Wil Catlin

office building at 82 Devonshire street in the financial district in Boston

Photo Credit: affordablehousinginstitute.org

82 Devonshire St. in an iconic address in Boston as well as money managements circles worldwide. As I was walking past the building yesterday and client of mine commented on how he used to make sales calls there many years ago, I replied, I did as well. Many decisions have been made there that have guided Fidelity to the beacon of success that it is known as today. In the near future the ownership will change along with the occupants.

A Boston Business Journal article notes that the investment company, “has reportedly hired a real estate broker to market its former headquarters at 82 Devonshire St. in Boston’s Financial District for sale or lease.”

More details can be found on the BBJ, here.

0 Boston Offices Susceptible to Major Flooding?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Should you worry about where your next office is located in Boston? Well, I would say no, but a Boston Business Journal editorial provides some real insight into what could happen on an extreme level. The real interesting piece of this is where do groups put data centers. Safe to say data centers are located outside these possible effect areas.

The complete BBJ article explores the plausibility that a “Sandy-strength storm could put nearly 7 percent of Boston underwater.”

0 Nationwide Rent Growth Expected in Office Sector

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Rent growth is expected nationwide in the office sector. According to a CoStar Group Year-End 2012 report, “tenant demand for office space ended 2012 on a strong note as occupancy gains spread across a broadening array of U.S. markets, opening the door for widespread rental rate increases this year.”

For complete details, jump over to Costar.com to read the full report. Continue on to our listings page to view available office space for rent in Boston.

0 Mobile App, Hailo, Dispatches Taxis in Boston

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Screenshot of a taxi dispatch app that operates in Boston, along with other cities across the US

Photo Credit: Hailo

Days of having your administrative assistant scheduling a car service to take you to the airport at 10:00 AM are perhaps a thing of the past. Your meeting is running long, you need to text your admin and have her contact the limo service to have the car wait. She texts you back, “OK”. You reply, “thanks”. Well, now simply reply on technology to work for you.

Hailo and a series of other apps are designed to deliver a taxi whenever you want wherever you are with two taps.

The Boston Globe wrote a detailed editorial on the Hailo’s expansion plans, following the closing of an investment round of $30.6 million.

0 Boston Commercial Real Estate Market Starts 2013 Strong

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Wil Catlin

The office market is strong within greater Boston and hasn’t this active with positive rent growth and absorption since 2007. This is due to a couple of components; flight to quality, migration to Boston from suburban markets, new companies entering the market and companies within Boston expanding.

The Boston Business Journal notes, the strength of the market; “greater Boston’s office market achieved more than 2.8 million square feet of positive absorption last year, the strongest showing since 2007”

Specific areas of growth in the Boston office market are detailed on the Boston Business Journal’s article, here. Alternatively, follow the link to preview available office space for lease in Boston.

0 133 Federal Street To House 11,000 RSF CrossFit Facility

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Wil Catlin

133 Federal Street is home to a new 11,000 RSF facility that was formerly FitCorp. CrossFit is not your gym experience from the past; the high intensity workouts have gone mainstream and become one of the hottest trends for those looking for more than simply picking things up and putting them down.

An article on the Boston Business Journal explains two central elements underlying the CrossFit craze, “first, it’s a deliberately decentralized business operation, giving gym owners wide latitude to set fees, lease space, purchase equipment and design programs….second, there is no prescribed exercise program, but rather a steady mix of drills intended to forge ‘elite fitness’.”

0 11 Beacon St. Sells for $35M

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Photo Credit: Boston Business Journal

The Class B office sale market continues to move in 2013 with the recent closing of 11 Beacon by Synergy Investments for $35M. The acquisition offers the market an expanded footprint by a landlord with a proven track record to get deals done.

Market rents in the Class B market are ranging from the upper $20’s – low to mid $30’s PSF within the Financial District.

According to an article on the Boston Business Journal, “the 93-year-old building was put on the market last fall by DivcoWest Properties, a privately-owned real estate investment firm with offices in Boston, who paid $16 million for the property in 2010. Divco said it spent $4.9 million in capital improvements. The city has assessed the 12-story building at $20.8 million.

For more details on the sale of 11 Beacon Street, follow the link to the Boston Business Journal’s coverage.