0 Boston Office Market Leads the Nation

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Charts courtesy of Marcus & Millichap via MHN Online

Boston continues to lead the nation with one of the most stable office markets which is due to a strong local economy.

Research data from Marcus & Millichap, published on MultiHousingNews.com, reaffirms this claim:

“Over 38,500 jobs were created in 2013 in the city, increasing payrolls 1.5 percent. By the end of 2014 employers will add 40,200 new jobs, of which 14,000 will be office-using positions—a 2 percent increase from last year…Developers completed approximately 4.2 million square feet of office space over the last twelve months as compared to merely 1.4 million square feet in the previous year. Around 5.2 million square feet currently under construction in the metro area is expected to come online throughout 2016.”

“According to Marcus & Millichap, approximately 3.2 million square feet of office space is set for completion by the end of 2014—a 1 percent increase from 2013—with new inventory being heavily concentrated in the Boston/Suffolk County and Route 128 North submarkets.”

You can read the full report on MHN Online.

0 BBJ Interviews Kenneth Goldberg of Bernkopf Goodman

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: BBJ

A true professional; I have had the opportunity to sit across from Ken and I appreciate his perspective, approach and candor.

The BBJ published a riveting interview with Ken Goldberg that I compel you to read: Outside the Box: Kenneth Goldberg of Bernkopf Goodman.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

“Is there anything else that might surprise people about you? There are a lot of people who are a whole lot smarter and I work hard to make up for that. I might be up all night or well into the night to prep for a meeting — just to be fully prepared. I come across on the ball and in command. But I prepare so that I’m the best prepared in the group.”

0 What Makes for Cool Office Space in Boston?

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Globe

Some of the creative spaces to work house some interesting amenities that would have been frowned-upon in the recent past. How we work and how we collaborate has evolved, and companies are trying to offer a creative and fun environment that can help their teams excel.

Cool features include:

·         Hammock
·         Beer tabs
·         Standing desks
·         IT vending machine
·         Nap room
·         Kitchens with large flat-screen TV’s
·         Foosball
·         Treadmill desks
·         No assigned desks
·         Wall displays of employees which is designed to make introductions
·         Town hall styled meeting space
·         Glass, glass and more glass for abundant natural light

A recent Boston Globe article on Boston’s “Cool Office Spaces at Top Places to Work“, notes “some of Top Places to Work winners have some excellent digs for their employees. Newer workspaces include beer on tap, flexible workstations, and even a nap room in one case.” The Globe article also includes a slideshow of Boston’s stylish office spaces to peruse.

0 Seaport Square: Construction Underway

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: BostonsNewWaterfront.com

We have waited a long time for Seaport Square and now we can have a peak at what is underway. Construction should take about 3.5 years and will provide retail and residential to the flourishing recent office developments.3

From the BBJ, along with a Seaport Square slideshow:

“Developer John Hynes of Boston Global Investors said, ‘It’s all systems go on Monday’ and the project should be complete in 3 1/2 years. Hynes said the scale of One Seaport Square will be rivaled in recent Boston development history only by the 1958 construction of the Prudential Center and the 1984 construction of Copley Place…Stephen Wood of Berkshire Group said the residential component, which his company is handling, will be aimed at people who want ‘a seamless transition between their personal and professional lives.'”

You can read about the groundbreaking of One Seaport Sq. on the Boston Business Journal.

0 Report: Search for new Boston Globe HQ Down to Fenway, Charlestown

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: BBJ

The Boston Globe is narrowing its search for its new home. Reports on the BBJ name Fenway and Charlestown as potential destinations for Globe’s new HQ.

The Boston Business Journal states, “local real estate sources have confirmed that two of the newspaper company’s possible destinations are in Charlestown, while the third site under consideration is the Fenway, just a stone’s throw from another prominent asset owned by Henry, the Boston Red Sox. The article also notes, “The Landmark Center in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood will have approximately 360,000 square feet of available space following the departure of Blue Cross/Blue Shield.”

You can real the BBJ article, here.

0 Seaport Square Looks to Anchor Transformed Boston Neighborhood

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Banker & Tradesman

Movies, bowling and fitness are on their way to the Seaport. The Seaport transformation continues to evolve as more neighborhoods amenities are added, along with the designation of Seaport Square.

From Banker&Tradesman:

“Seaport Square master developer Boston Global Investors and Morgan Stanley acquired the 23-acre parcels, most covered with surface parking, from News Corp. in 2006. The full buildout would contain enough space to fill more than five Prudential Towers…The next phase will be a 450,000-square-foot office building on the parcel directly east of One Seaport Square. The site is currently occupied by Our Lady of Good Voyage chapel, which will be relocated to 51 Seaport Boulevard. Hynes said the office building could be built on speculation beginning in 2016.”

0 Office Design Trends in Boston

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Wil Catlin

The evolution of the office space continues at a dramatic pace. Technology has been at the forefront in the change with Wi-Fi, demountable private office systems and informational screen systems. Some still demand the private office while others are embracing the collaborative environment.

Credit: The Boston Globe

A Boston Globe editorial examined a cross-section of office space inhabited by some of Boston’s largest businesses. In the article, the Globe describes that “offices are being designed to offer slightly cramped but open spaces to create “collision zones” for employees, where conversations get started and ideas get hatched. Status-based work areas have gotten the pink slip as companies envision cross-departmental, even cross-industry alliances. And why have a meeting around a gigantic table when you and a few co-workers can set up shop in a booth — not so different from one at Denny’s.”

You can read the Globe editorial by following the link.

0 1,700-car Garage Plotted for South Boston Waterfront

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Wil Catlin

The growth of the Seaport District has created a number of challenges and one of the prominent ones is parking. Massport is looking to offer some relief to this by building a 1,700 car garage atop the Pike.

Credit: WaterSideBoston.com

The Boston Globe offers details on the proposed parking additions, noting it “would be built over a strengthened section of the turnpike tunnel near the World Trade Center complex. Although the site is about a third of a mile from the Seaport Square area, where visitors to Fan Pier and attractions like the Institute of Contemporary Art vie for parking with workers from the adjacent financial district, Massport said the parking garage would be vital for apartments and a planned hotel near the convention center.

For more information on the proposed South Boston Waterfront Garage, jump over to the Boston Globe’s website

0 November 9th: 142nd Anniversary of the Great Boston Fire

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Wil Catlin

archive image of the great Boston fire in 1872

Credit: Wikipedia

The great Boston Fire started on November 9th in 1872 that started on the corner of Kingston and Summer Streets which is now the heart of Downtown Crossing (DTX).

The historic significance of the fire’s aftermath of the city’s commercial development is noted in The Daily Times:

On this day in 1872, a fire in Boston destroyed hundreds of buildings and kills 14 people. In the aftermath, the city established an entirely new system of firefighting and prevention. The fire also led to the creation of Boston’s financial district…The business community saw the burned area as an opportunity to expand its presence downtown. The city’s financial district was established where the fire had hit hardest and Boston soon became a key business center of the late 19th-century United States.

0 Proposals Submitted for Parcel 13 Over Mass Pike in Back Bay

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Globe

One thing that we truly aren’t making more of is real estate. The recent focus is Back Bay at the intersection of Mass Ave and Boylston Street above the Pike; will this become the next hot development site? Parcel 13 is getting a lot of attention and the stars might be aligning for building above the Pike.

The Boston Globe reports, “three companies on Friday submitted proposals to build large complexes on the 50,000-square-foot lot, across from the Hynes Convention Center. The pitches include a curvy, 11-story building with residences, a hotel, and stores, as well as a 21-story complex with shops and 350 apartments…The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will select a winner in the coming months. The redevelopment would create a new entrance to the Back Bay and help enliven a disjointed section of the otherwise bustling neighborhood.”

You can read more on the contest and proposals for Parcel 13 on The Boston Globe.