Commercial Real Estate News
Will Higher Ed Building Projects Flunk the Test?
Higher education is a backbone of Greater Boston’s construction market, but cracks are starting to show and many schools are focusing on renovations instead.
State Land for Homes Is No Silver Bullet
Massachusetts’ program can help show localities what’s possible, but stronger carrots and sticks are needed to get the real prize: developing municipally-owned parcels.
Hot Property: MarketStreet Lynnfield
MarketStreet in Lynnfield refreshes its tenant roster with four new tenant openings this fall.
Mass. Should Build New Cities, Too
Boston, Worcester and Springfield may be the Bay State’s three largest cities, but if Congressman Jake Aucincloss has his way, they may get competition.
Minimum Lot-Size Reform Is a Modest Idea with Big Potential
A proposed 2026 ballot initiative could seed housing production by making it easier to build more affordable single-family starter homes in Massachusetts.
BPDA Approves Big Downtown Tower Upzoning
Boston planning officials approved new downtown zoning regulations designed to encourage development of multifamily housing and reinvigorate investment offsetting declines in office occupancy.
Under Court Order, Boston OKs 204 Apartments Minus Affordable Units
An apartment developer won approval to build a 204-unit project at a Hyde Park woodland, bringing an apparent end to its legal battle with the Boston Planning & Development Agency.
Community Good Works
Eastern Bank gave the Braintree Little League program a $10,000 gift to mark the first time in history its 12-year-old players made it to the Little League World Series during an epic series of wins this year. See who else gave back.
KKR Inks 133K SF Lease at International Place
Private equity giant KKR is establishing a major presence in downtown Boston with the signing of a 15-year lease for 132,529 square-foot lease at The Chiofaro Company’s Two International Place.
BU Puts New Academic Tower on Hold
Boston University indefinitely postponed plans for a new $94 million academic tower, in a reflection of the financial pressures facing the higher education sector.
125 Affordable Apartment Units Financed in Everett
MassDevelopment has issued a $34.31 million tax-exempt bond to finance the first all-affordable building in Everett’s Commercial Triangle neighborhood.
Opponents Urge ‘No’ Vote on Pivotal Downtown Rezoning
Opponents of Boston’s downtown “Skyline” rezoning proposal are mounting a last-minute campaign as it heads to a vote of the Boston Planning & Development Agency board of directors Thursday.
Fenway Tower Site Trades for $28M at Auction
A Fenway property that’s approved for a 28-story residential tower attracted a high bid of $28.1 million at a foreclosure auction Tuesday.
BSA Move Could Create New Civic Hub in Downtown Boston
The Boston Society for Architecture’s search for a new home entered a new phase with the selection of a brokerage to sound out downtown landlords.
Personnel File – No. 419
From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: It’s our weekly Personnel File roundup.
Boston Councilors Probe Source of Utility Mishaps
Boston city councilors scheduled a hearing this week to investigate recent utility failures in Chinatown and the Leather District, where data indicates changing subsurface conditions including high groundwater temperatures.
Sculptor, MASS Design Group Unveil Memorial at Boston Church
The congregation at King’s Chapel, the home church for many famous Bostonians, took the wraps off a 14-foot tall memorial to the hundreds of people enslaved by its members and ministers over the church’s 339-year history.
Mill Creek Closes on $98M Loan for 380-Unit Development
Apartment developer Mill Creek closed on a $97.6 million construction loan and acquired a Medford industrial property for $20.5 million where it has approval for a Chapter 40B development.
Rate Cut Could Spur Suburban Housing Starts
Suburban multifamily development is likely to benefit the most from potential interest rate cuts, brokers and developers predict, with MBTA Communities districts in the lead.
Who Cares About Main Street? Not Massachusetts, Apparently
Massachusetts just lost its only statewide program to support downtowns and main streets. We need to think differently about how to support these vital places.
This Week’s Newspaper
