0 Office Space Now Serves as a Recruiting Tool

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Contemporist

Office space is no longer just a place to work, but rather a recruiting tool. Prospective employees not only are evaluating their financial compensation, additionally they investigate the work environment. The new office model encompasses much smaller footprint per employee while many more collaborative areas.

From Boston.com

The recent TripAdvisor and New Balance office unveilings in the greater Boston area have included variations on the same theme: these buildings are necessary to attract young talent.

With their spiffy, modern, amenity-filled new digs, these companies are competing with the likes of Google, Apple, and Amazon to get the top talent in the country and the world.

0 Needham Crossing Progressing

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: prnewswire

The Town of Needham is experiencing a boom in development. With an abundance of newly-constructed office buildings in Needham, recent zoning changes as well as the state’s add-a-lane highway project –- which will include on- and off-ramps for Route 128 at Kendrick Street -– Jeremy Freid, a partner in the suburban arm of Boston Realty Advisors, believes said change will send positive signals to the business community.

A Needham Times editorial on WickedLocal, Let Needham Crossing thrive, includes a progress report on the commercial development:

“The biggest boon to Needham Crossing came in late 2012 when TripAdvisor agreed to move its headquarters there after Needham Town Meeting approved $1.8 million in tax breaks for the company in exchange for construction of a new headquarters and the hiring of 250 additional employees over five years. The new headquarters is slowly coming to fruition. Its steel frame is already up, and the project is moving toward a 2015 completion date.”

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 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 Needham Business Leaders Push For Change

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Credit: Boston Globe

In an uncharacteristic move by the Town of Needham, two permitting changes were made this June. Needham residents have expressed an urge to enhance Downtown Needham with the hope that the reform will pave the way for more significant growth. Among the changes that have taken place, businesses will now have an easier time altering the façade of their office, flex and industrial buildings. Will this have an impact on the look and feel of Needham/Newton office buildings and their asset class?

Newton.WickedLocal notes, “this will save small business owners the hassle of getting on a Planning Board agenda and posting a public notice, plus the optional expense of hiring a lawyer.”

You can read the Wicked Local article, here.

0 Newton Adds Another Office Development

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Wil Catlin

An increased amount of parking spaces throughout Newton will exist in the next handful of years strengthening the parking ratios for office space in this market. Typical parking ratios offered in the dynamic Newton market boast three spaces per 1,000 sf lease. With the addition of the Austin Street development, more businesses will be able to accommodate its employees and their cars. Maybe this will persuade commercial landlords in Needham to bolster the parking ratios they offer for their properties?

From Newton.WickedLocal:

“The proposed Austin Street developer will hold an info session at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 at Newton North High School Cafeteria, not City Hall as previously planned. Residents will be able to meet and share ideas with Austin Street Partners, the recently selected development team.”