0 South Boston Marine Industrial Park Appears Marked for Development

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Wil Catlin

The view of Boston from the water is one of the most photographed in the city. The South Boston industrial area does not get the same airtime as Rowes Wharf or the skyline of the Financial District. Rest assured, changes are coming as our city continues to expand.

The Boston Globe reports on “the biggest proposed changes that could emerge in the coming months: expanding what the city considers “marine” to cram more industrial uses on the remaining undeveloped sites. The updated plan could bring buildings that are taller or have bigger footprints. It could also provide for more lab space and new restaurants to serve the park’s estimated 3,500 workers. A second parking garage could be in the works, and improvements to make it easier for boats to pull up.”

This picture was taken of the former Anthony’s Pier 4

This picture was taken at the end of the North Jetty off of Fid Kennedy Avenue

0 Seaport Square Moves into Next Phase of Development

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Overhead rendering of Seaport Square in Boston

Credit: BBJ

What changes are occurring in the Seaport Square area of Boston?

According to the BBJ, “the original 23-acre Seaport Square master plan was approved back in 2010….for [a] residential component [that] included plans for two 550,000-square-foot towers. But the design has since changed to three 350,000-square-foot towers with a large-scale public plaza, which architects Kohn Pederson Fox Associates of New York say could mark a “turning point” for the neighborhood.”

The Bizjournals site has also posted a video reviewing the current design plans for Boston’s Seaport Square.

0 Three New Seaport Office Towers Gain Approval

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Boston Globe

The skyline in the Seaport continue to change with the approval of 3 more towers Boston Civic Design Commission.

According to a recent Boston Globe article, “the Boston Civic Design Commission gave its approval to the plans for three 22-story condo and apartment towers and retail along Seaport Boulevard. It’s the final city approval needed for the $700 million project, said Nick Martin, a spokesman for the Boston Redevelopment Authority…Unlike many developments in the Seaport, which have been criticized for being overly boxy, these buildings are designed with staggered heights and different shapes arrayed around an elevated podium with retail on the 3.5 acre site. It would include about 1,100 condos and apartments,- with the exact mix to be determined by market conditions – and 125,000 square feet of retail space. The buildings will be built on two blocks between Seaport Boulevard and Congress Street, between B Street and East Service Road.”

You can read the full article on the Globe’s website.

0 Seaport Sports New Wayfinding Signs

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: B&T

I’m sorry, which way to the Seaport/Innovation District? Let us help you get there.

According to Banker and Tradesman, “New wayfinding signs were installed in Boston’s Seaport District on Friday as part of a pilot program to make the fast-changing neighborhood more navigable to pedestrians and out-of-town visitors. The first phase includes signs designed to help pedestrians find their way from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to neighborhood landmarks such as the Fan Pier, Liberty Wharf and South Station.”

You can read more on the new Seaport signage on B&T.

0 Seaport Traffic Relief Sought

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Wil Catlin

The Seaport snarl of traffic is about to get some trialed relief. The bypass road will be opened to general traffic for a six-month trial.

Credit: Boston Globe

From the Boston Globe:

The biggest change begins Monday, when officials will open up a long stretch of the South Boston Bypass Road to all cars as part of a six-month pilot program. The street, created in 1993 for truck traffic from the Big Dig construction project, has been open only to commercial vehicles.

Cars will now be allowed to drive on the portion of the bypass near the convention center at any time, and on the eastbound section from Interstate 93 to Richards Street during the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. rush hour.

Officials will also allow all passenger cars to travel on the barely-used High Occupancy Vehicle ramp on the northbound side of I-93 near downtown Boston, which brings traffic directly to the Ted Williams Tunnel, removing some airport-bound traffic from local streets.

0 More Seaport Office and Retail Space Coming to Fort Point Garage

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Wil Catlin

22 Boston Wharf Road in Boston Seaport

New Seaport office space is coming thanks to Berkeley Investments. According to the BBJ, “Berkeley Investments has plans to add two office floors atop the Stillings Street parking garage at 22 Boston Wharf Road…[and] is also proposing to add street-level retail to Boston Wharf Road, which is a relatively short connecting road between Congress Street and Seaport Boulevard, as well as additional windows along the side of the building that abuts the Q Street park.”

The building at 22 Boston Wharf Road currently includes 241,124-square-feet and has been assessed at $26.435 million, based on information in the BBJ from the city assessor.

0 MassChallenge Accepts 128 New Startups

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Who are the newest inductees into MassChallenge? Have a look.

The BBJ remarked on the program’s intrigue, “part of the four-month long no-equity program, startup teams will be granted free office space at MassChallenge’s headquarters in the Seaport and work with expert mentors in the area. Hardware startups will also have access to the MADE@ MassChallenge hardware lab, where they can prototype and manufacture products.”

Jump over to the BizJournals.com website to see the complete list of all 128 startups accepted to the accelerator program.

0 Northern Avenue Bridge will be Restored for Motor Vehicle Traffic

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Wil Catlin

northern avg bridge leads to seaport office buildings in Boston

Credit: B&T

The Northern Avenue bridge built in 1908 is recommended to get another lease on life. The bridge is one of the last remaining swing bridges in New England and is an engineering marvel to watch when it’s in motion.

The bridge was not only designed for pedestrians and cars, but also the Union Freight Railroad.

A study on the Seaport, referenced in Banker&Tradesman, cites the following:

The overall volume of commutes into the Seaport will increase 63 percent by 2035…The study committee’s consensus: restoring the three-lane bridge, with one lane dedicated for motor vehicles. Pedestrian and bicycle access also would be preserved.

“There was some concern in the pedestrian and bicycling community about opening it up to traffic,” said Rick Dimino, CEO of Boston-based planning organization A Better City Inc. “But at the end of the day, there was pretty substantial support that the bridge needs to be opened up to traffic again.”

0 Fort Point Lease Secured by LogMeIn

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: WikiMedia

Looking to neighbor up with LogMeIn? Score the space on Summer Street between A Street and the Convention Center.

B&T repots, “remote computing company LogMeIn has finalized a 117,000-square-foot lease for 327-335 Summer St. in Boston’s Fort Point beginning Nov. 1…The lease runs 12.5 years with two five-year extension options, according to filings with the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.”

You can read the article on the Banker&Tradesman website

0 Who’s Going to Fund the Northern Avenue Bridge Renovations?

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Wil Catlin

South Boston, Seaport Northern ave bridge

Credit: Banker&Tradesman

Should the bridge be used by developers or not? Well, they might not actually cross it, but fund the renovations for it. Why you ask, zoning relief.

From Banker&Tradesman:

An advisory group of stakeholders – ranging from walking and bicycling advocates to preservationists and Seaport businesses – has discussed a public-private partnership as a funding source, said member Greg Galer, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance…The group has been meeting since December and will submit a recommendation to Walsh as soon as next month.

“There’s benefits to the development community from this bridge,” Galer said. “You see all of the complaints from their employees who work over the bridge, and the neighborhood constituents such as the Barking Crab (restaurant) and Hook Lobster properties.”