0 GE Closes in on Seaport HQ Construction

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GE HQ in Fort Point Boston

Credit: BBJ

The GE campus in Boston’s Seaport has taken its first step in the construction process with the city issuing building permits to asbestos abatement.

From the Boston Business Journal:

Brian M. Campbell on Dec. 22 received a $258,000 building permit for the buildings at 5 and 6 Necco Court. Work will include asbestos and lead abatement in the properties, as well as selective interior demolition to access the surfaces impacted by those materials, the building permit states.

The two five-story Necco buildings date to the early 1900s and are former factories for New England Confectionary Co., which made NECCO wafers. Together, the buildings span 110,000 square feet. GE plans to rehabilitate the brick-and-beam buildings into 95,400 square feet of gross floor area…The campus will also include a newly built 12-story office, which includes a solar veil and an illuminated GE logo. The three buildings together will span 388,070 square feet and include 61,490 square feet of outdoor public space.

0 Self-Driving Cars Hit the Streets of Boston

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NuTonomy self-driving cars in Boston

Credit: wbur

On this day in Massachusetts self-driving cars will be hitting the streets in Boston.

According to wbur, “the testing will initially be confined to the 191-acre Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park, which has a simple road layout and no traffic lights. Testing will also be limited to daylight hours and good weather.”

You can read more on wbur’s website.

0 MA Named Most Innovative in U.S.

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Kenmore Square in Fenway

Credit: Boston Globe

What are we know for in Massachusetts? Innovative ideas. Among our peers, Massachusetts ranks number one. Why is that, well a number of reasons; we have:

  • 114 Colleges and Universities
  • Biotech & Pharma
  • Venture Capital
  • Tech Sector
  • Defense
  • Money Managers
  • Medical and Teaching Hospitals
  • Sports Teams

From the BBJ:

According to Bloomberg, California scored behind Massachusetts, “which gained ground by churning out more science and engineering graduates and producing jobs in those industries even though it had less technology company density than in 2015,” according to the data compiled by Bloomberg.

0 MA unemployment rate dips under 3%

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Boston Statehouse

Credit: BBJ

Massachusetts unemployment hits a new record low for the century. Our economy is growing and adding jobs in all sectors.

According to a BBJ editorial, “the Bay State’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.9 percent in November, marking the first time it has dipped below 3 percent since the beginning of the century…Massachusetts added a net of 5,800 jobs last month, with the government leading the way by creating 3,800 new positions, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said Thursday. Three other sectors — construction, financial activities, and professional, scientific and business services — each added 1,000 jobs or more.”

Additional information is available on the Boston Business Journal’s website, here.

0 South Station Tower Gains New Promise

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rendering of new mixed-use building near South Station

Credit: Boston Globe

The South Station tower moves closer to reality despite some obstacles. The tower would be built on spec.

From the Boston Globe:

The Boston Planning & Development Agency board approved plans for a 51-story office and condominium tower over the busy rail hub…Development firm Hines would build the tower above the rail shed at South Station, with a lobby along Atlantic Avenue. That lobby would fill in the gap between South Station’s main concourse and its bus terminal, and would expand the bus facilities by 50 percent. It would also expand a parking garage, adding 527 spaces.

Above that, Hines would build 1.1 million square feet of office space and condos in what, at 677 feet high, would rank among the city’s tallest buildings. Later phases would add two mid-rise buildings atop the station.

0 Breather Moves to Expand its On-Demand Workspaces

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Breather co-working office space

Credit: Techvibes

Breather is on an aggressive growth mode with a closing on a $40 million dollar round led by Menlo Venture in participation with Valar Ventures, RRE Ventures, Slow Ventures and Real Ventures. The team of Justin Harlow, Bonny Doorakian, Robert LeClair and Wil Catlin is handling their Boston expansion.

From Techvibes:

“Breather has tapped into a real need in the workplace. There hasn’t been a company of its kind offering spaces on-demand,” said Venky Ganesan, Managing Director of Menlo Ventures. “Breather has a tremendous vision to connect the world’s spaces and make them accessible to all.”

Breather has no membership fees or long-term contracts. Instead, the company offers workspaces on a pay-per-use basis through the company’s proprietary app.

0 French Restaurant Planned for Masonic Temple in Boston

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Boston restauranteur Ed Kane

Credit: Boston Business Journal

Some street corners looking to be changing in Boston and with the city wide reduced speed limit we can now appreciate some of the new destinations. Ed Kane is looking to create a new destination at the corner of Boylston and Tremont Street to offer French cuisine.

From the BBJ:

According to an agenda for a meeting next week of the Downtown Boston Residents’ Association, entrepreneur Ed Kane wants to open a full-service French restaurant and cafe in the space, which is just off the Boston Common. Kane’s company, Big Night Entertainment Group, owns a group of restaurants and nightclubs in Boston including Red Lantern, Empire and Gem.

0 Synergy Sells Two Class B Office Buildings in Boston for $75m

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Class B office building in Boston

Credit: BBJ

Trades continue in Boston’s Class B sector with the sale of 99 Chauncy Street and 101 Summer Street to TIAA from Synergy Investments for $75 million.

A recent article on the BBJ’s website notes, “Synergy sold the historic assets for a combined $75 million to a unit of TIAA, a New York-based teachers’ union pension fund with $889 billion in assets under management, according to Suffolk County deeds. Synergy’s ownership partner in the properties was Indepencia PE, a Chile-based investment advisor. The $75 million sale price is four times the combined $18.7 million Synergy invested in 2010 and 2011 to acquire the properties.”

Additional details about the class B office building sales are available on the Boston Business Journal, here.

0 Reebok Headed to Boston’s Seaport District

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A retail store, running track, and a new Corporate Headquarters are coming to Boston Seaport curtesy of Reebok.

Reebok Seaport HQ

Credit: BBJ

From the Boston Business Journal:

The athletic gear maker, which is currently based in Canton, said Wednesday it will occupy 220,000 square feet and five floors of space at the Innovation & Design Building by next fall. About 700 employees will work from the office.

“Our vision is to bring ‘The Home of Fitness,’ which we’ve created at our Canton HQ, to this new location,” said Reebok President Matt O’Toole in a statement. “We have a goal of being the fittest, healthiest workplace in the country, and this new location will go a long way in helping us achieve this goal. It will be a workplace unlike any other in the city, with amenities that will not only benefit our employees, but the local community as well.”

0 Mass Leaders Head to Israel for Economic Development Mission

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Gov Baker

Credit: BBJ

Greater Boston offers a platform that is unrivaled for emerging companies compared with other U.S. cities. 56 leaders from Massachusetts will be headed to Israel to promote Boston as the hub for business’ ecosystem. The leaders cover education, government, cyber security, digital health, venture capital and other business’.

According to the Boston Business Journal, “the summit is the marquee event of the Economic Development Mission to Israel Gov. Charlie Baker announced in September, his first overseas trade trip since taking office. By showing off two of the state’s thriving industries, the delegation aims to convince expanding Israeli tech companies to choose Boston as the location for their first U.S. headquarters.”

Additional information is available on the BBJ website, here.