0 South Station Renovation Progresses; New Restrooms Announced

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Banker & Tradesman

The upgrades at Boston’s largest community hub continue. Yesterday, the first step of South Station’s augmentation was completed, with the opening of new women’s restrooms.

From Banker & Tradesman:

“South Station restroom changes include the creation of an airport-quality ladies room in the former Clark’s space. The accessible restroom fixtures will increase from 16 to 20. An expanded, high-quality men’s restroom is currently under construction, and the existing men’s restroom will be moved temporarily during construction to the former women’s room. The construction barrier around the Red Line elevator has been installed and work is being conducted at night. Additional security and signage is in place to direct commuters to the new restroom area.”

The full B&T article is available, here.

0 Boston Ranks 2nd in Construction Jobs

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Boston Globe

Greater Boston is 2nd to Los Angeles in new construction jobs, beating Houston, Atlanta and Phoenix. Employers and employees want to work live and play in our beautiful city.

According to the Boston Globe, “since August 2012, construction activity and employment have jumped. The Boston metro area added 8,700 construction jobs, compared with 8,900 in Los Angeles and 8,200 in Houston…Driving this surge are several factors, including the strength of Boston’s technology, biotechnology, and medical industries, pent-up demand for housing, and improved credit conditions that have made financing available for commercial construction.”

What we’re experiencing is the revitalization and creation of communities that cater to the changing demands of today’s workforce, while offering all aspects of a residential community that includes schools and grocery stores. Thank you to our construction industry for making this happen.

The full Globe article is available to subscribers, here.

0 Boston Real Estate: How will Marty Walsh Impact Development?

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Globe

Will the development pipeline of new construction continue at its current rate, or drop off under the Walsh administration?

An article in the Boston Globe highlighted some of the questions around the Walsh administration, and its potential impact on office development:

It was clear that Walsh’s plainspoken Dorchester demeanor did not always mix easily with some of the business constituencies he must now represent.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or jump over to the full article on the Boston Globe’s website.

0 South Station Redevelopment: Back to the Drawing Board

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Boston Business Journal

The starts and stops at South Station redevelopment – will we see condos or more office space?

A recent article on the BBJ’s website, quotes a senior vice president in Hines’ Boston office:

Seven years after getting permits for a 1.9-million-square-foot mixed-use project anchored by a 47-story office tower, Houston-based developer Hines is headed back to the drawing board. It plans to reduce office space and eliminate a 200-room hotel while increasing the number of residential units, said David Perry, a senior vice president in Hines’ Boston office.

For the full article, head over to the Boston Business Journal.

0 Boston Ranked 3rd Most ‘Walkable’ City

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Boston Business Journal

Boston is a very walkable city except when you want to cross the street. Doesn’t matter if you on Beacon Hill or Dot Ave – look left, right, left – then run.

The Boston Business Journal interviewed Walk Score — the company the produced the survey — CEO, Joshua Herst, who stated “Boston is a very walkable place and came out with a score of 79.5, making it a very walkable location.” Herst went on to say “Boston may be our most consistent performer, coming in at number three in our 2008, 2011 and 2014 rankings.”

Additional insights from the interview are available on the BBJ.

0 MIT-designed Solar Benches in Boston

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Globe

What’s in store for the Greenway or a park bench near you? Solar with the Net, that’s right. MIT designed benches allow occupant to rest, recharge and Uber without increasing the carbon footprint.

According to The Boston Globe, “installed recently at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, each of these two sleek, backless benches has a solar panel on one side to provide power to recharge cellphones, a connection to the Internet, and for night lighting. Soon they also will have sensors to detect for air pollution — even telling whether someone nearby is smoking.”

The full article is available to Globe subscribers: Seat-e can recharge phones as users take a rest

0 MassDOT Approves Back Bay Hotel, Retail, and Condo Project

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Banker & Tradesman

At Boylston Street and Mass Ave a new project has just gotten approvals from MDOT.

Details on the new project are available in Banker & Trademan, and included the following overview:

“A project at the corner of Boylston Street and Mass. Ave. in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood involving the construction of a hotel and residential development over the MassPike received approval from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation today…The 99-year lease agreement between MassDOT and ADG Scotia covering two plots of land, known as Parcels 12 and 15, will provide the Commonwealth project value of $18.5 million for the two parcels in the form of fixed payments early in the lease period combined with annual rent payments.”

The full article can be found here on B&T.

0 Real Estate Developers Voice Case for Tax Breaks

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Credit: The Boston Globe

Are you in favor or opposed of tax relief for construction projects? A Boston Globe editorial addressed the issue of added tax relief for construction projects, noting “the developer of Boston’s ambitious Fenway Center development is seeking $7.8 million in city tax breaks to proceed with construction, saying the $500 million mega-project could fall apart without urgent public assistance.”

The full Globe article, available here, further explores the issue.

0 Ma Commercial Real Estate Development Ranks 7th

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Office space development and construction in Boston

Credit: Boston Business Journal

Our city is growing and adding more office, industrial, warehouse and retail space. This translates into construction jobs, followed by permanent jobs once the new facilities are built and occupied.

The local angle is detailed in the Boston Business Journal:

“The commercial real estate market’s continued rebound has pushed Massachusetts up two notches to 7th overall when it comes to construction spending among U.S. states, according to a new study by the NAIOP Research Foundation…Spending in the Bay State to build office, industrial, warehouse and retail space totaled $1.78 billion and supported 49,653 jobs in 2012, according to NAIOP.”

Follow the link for additional Boston Commercial Leasing Trends.

0 South Station Redesign?

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Wil Catlin

Is the commuter hub, South Station poised for a makeover? Well, yes. It seems that the Governor’s team is looking to make an upgrade of the 114-year old terminal.

rendering of a proposed south station redesign

Credit: Boston Business Journal

According to a report on the Boston Business Journal, “Gov. Deval Patrick’s transportation spending plan includes an $850 million expansion of South Station…the architect’s rendering (right) appears to show the 114-year-old train terminal with its roof blown off, replaced by a glass canopy that stretches out to pedestrian walkways extending over the train platforms.”

The full article, along with additional renderings is available on the Boston Business Journal website.