0 New Developments in Watertown Trigger Site Plan Review Committee

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: ci.watertown.ma.us/

Developers in the town of Watertown will now be required to hold Site Plan Review meetings to allow nearby residents the opportunity to voice their opinions about new developments. Although Residents in West Watertown have been holding similar meetings for years, one councilman was quoted on Watertown’s edition of Wicked Local, saying, “it’s good to finally formalize these meetings. Good proposal.” Similar meetings are held in nearby Towns such as Needham and Newton to discuss newly developed office and retail buildings. You can imagine how busy this group may be with the abundance of Needham and Newton office space coming to the market in the next several years.

0 Boston Harbor Towers: Rendering and Prospective View

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Wil Catlin

The new proposed look of Chiofaro’s Waterfront project was unveiled last night. What does a $1B 1.3milling square foot project look like? Well, like the envisioned Harbor Towers.

The Boston Globe offers a “rendering showing a view of the new Harbor Towers buildings from the harbor. The new buildings are at the center of the rendering, to the right of the existing Harbor Towers buildings”:

Credit: The Boston Globe

Continue on to the Globe’s website for additional photos of the view from the water, towards the Financial District.

0 Boston Mayor Strongly Opposes Parking App

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Baltimore Sun

Selling information in some cities is OK, while in others, it’s frowned upon or outlawed. What would you pay to know that a parking space would be waiting in the Financial District? Would you post that information to an app for a couple of bucks? Haystack hopes that you care to know in a number of cities across the country.

The opportunistic parking app, however, was not well-received in Boston by the city’s new Mayor. The Boston Globe described the strong response by city officials:

“Boston officials have escalated their rhetoric opposing a new mobile app that lets drivers trade public parking spaces for cash, but they are not doing anything to stop the service…Mayor Martin J. Walsh accused Haystack, the Baltimore startup that makes an app with the same name, of artificially inflating parking prices and giving some drivers an unfair advantage over others…the city’s Transportation Department ‘will take appropriate measures to prohibit any such app'”

0 Boston Leather District Attracting Tech Firms

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Our tour history of the last 180 days is 75% of the Class B tenants in the market are: Tech, Ad Firms or Architects and Design firms. Today’s tenant in the market is looking for unique amenities like; bike storage, pet friendly, shared conference space, roof decks. One of the places in Boston tech firms have been gravitating towards in the Leather District in Boston.

map of tech companies in Boston leather district

Credit: BetaBoston

Betaboston has compiled a map of tech firms in Boston’s Leather District:

“In the fall of 2011, ed tech startup Boundless set up shop in an office in Boston’s Leather District, a tiny neighborhood sandwiched between Chinatown and the Financial District. Terrible Labs and Yesware would follow in mid-2012…since then more than two dozen tech-related companies—including the Techstars Boston accelerator and Startup Institute, and Uber’s local office—have taken up residence in the neighborhood, named for its former status as a leather industry hub.”

0 New Location for Charles River Center

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: HometownWeekly

The Charles River Center has opened a new facility within Needham becoming the 10th home that the organization has opened to support local adults with intellectual and physical disabilities throughout the community. This serves as additional expansion taking place throughout the area, as residents and business owners are experiencing a boom in development occurring throughout the Town with the addition of new retail and office buildings along the Highland Avenue/Needham Street corridor.

From HomeTownWeekly.com:

“In a press release, John Grugan, President of The Charles River Center, credited a number of town officials for working with the organization to help continue its growth. Among those mentioned in the release, were the Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and the Conservation Committee.”

0 Innovation and Design Building in Boston Marine Industrial Park Adds Commercial and Restaurant Space

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Boston.Citybizlist

The design center will be changing what it offers after receiving BRA approval. The change will be the conversion of industrial to commercial combined with dedicated retail and amenities such as vending trucks and Hubway bikes stations.

According to Banker & Tradesman, “the $15.5 million project will convert the space from industrial to commercial space, including 50,000 square feet that will be set aside for retail and restaurants.”

The full article is available on B&T’s website

0 The Boston Globe is on the Move, Literally

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Herald

The new ownership is in the midst of some significant changes on the look and feel along with the location. It will be interesting to see what becomes of the 16.5 acre complex in Dorchester that has housed The Globe since the ’50. Additionally, a 150K tenant in the market with garnish many developers and may be the catalyst to get another project out of the ground.

From the BBJ:

“Boston Globe owner John Henry has hiredColliers International to search for the space that would house the Globe’s editorial, advertising and administrative offices. Commercial real estate sources familiar with the search say Colliers has looked in the Seaport area, among other locations in Boston.”

0 Newton Among Top 10 MA Cities in Growth

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Despite being one of the oldest states in the country, Massachusetts is always inventing itself and continues to draw new residents and new businesses each year. According to a study done by NerdWallet to determine the top 10 cities on the rise throughout Massachusetts, Newton ranks in third with a 66.2% overall growth score from 2009-2012. With the indication that these numbers will steadily increase, it is believed that Newton will continue to grow and add new residents and businesses throughout the coming years. Commercial real estate agents will continue to stay active as an increase in businesses throughout the area will begin looking for Newton and Needham Office space.

Credit: NerdWallet

0 Needham Water and Sewer Rates to Increase

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: NeedhamMa.gov

With the recent vote by the Needham Board of Selectmen to increase water and sewer rates in the town for first time in nearly a decade, it will be interesting to see the direct impact this change has on Needham office buildings and the cost for office space throughout the area.

According to a report on Needham.WickedLocal.com, “the specific plan adopted for the next fiscal year introduces a $4 quarterly fee for irrigation meters and a $9 quarterly service charge for sewer use, while also increasing prices per cubic feet for all types of water use.”

The full Wicked Local article can be found, here.

0 A Universal Trend in Workplace Design

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: hok.com

A recent hok.com article on workplace design informs a trend all real estate professionals are seeing. The question is no longer just “how many SF and how long of a term do you need?” It is now, “what do your employees want, what type of environment helps you as the CEO of your company recruit, retain and maximize your talent and production within the space?”

From hok’s Top Trends Influencing Workplace Design:

“People Matter! If there is one macro-trend that encompasses all of the trends listed here, it would be the growing emphasis on people. Workplace design and strategy can play a huge role in helping to maximize the comfort and performance of occupants. Engaging with employees on how the workplace can best support them is a great way to start.”