Downtown Crossing One Franklin Tower

If you haven’t stopped by the old Filene’s Basement area in Downtown Crossing, you’re going to be quite surprised to see what has been happening. To set the stage, the below photo was taking at the end of January 2008, just before the Filene’s lettering was removed from the side of the “basement” in preparation for demolition.

Filene's Basement Boston January 2008

one-franklin-tower

Construction crews are making way for the preservation of, and renovation to, the existing eight-story Filene’s building at the corner of Washington and Summer Streets, and the nine-story building at the corner of Hawley and Franklin Streets, combing to form a new mixed-use development called the One Franklin Tower at 426 Washington Street.  One Franklin will boast over 1,200,700 square feet of hotel, retail, office, and residential Midtown condos.

Fast forward to this past weekend, August 2008, and you will see the exclusive photos below show significant progress (or lack of, depending on how you look at demolition) on the One Franklin project site.

Filene's Basement Boston August 2008

One Franklin Tower Boston August 2008

Internet Search Goes Visual

With the search engine space being dominated by Google, you might think that there is no room for further innovation in the arena, however, over the past several months, new search engines have arisen that put a unique spin on how you find websites. Two of those search engines, described below, make a significant departure from the list-based search engine results pages (SERPs) that are characteristic of Google (Yahoo, and MSN).

SearchMe: Visual Search

SearchMe is a relatively new (still in beta) search engine that has a slick and easy to use interface that is visually stunning. After typing in a search phrase, the user is presented with screen shots of (hopefully) relevant websites that can be flipped through as though you were flipping through whole page advertisements while reading a magazine. The typical text based results of page titles that you would see on a standard SERP can be found by hovering your mouse over the top of one of the screenshots. Perhaps one of the only significant drawbacks to this engine is the number of clicks and time needed to scan through numerous sites. Our search for Boston Condo Blog displayed us as the third “page” in the search.

SearchMe Visual Search

Cuil Search Engine

The new (released Monday) search engine Cuil has been launched by former Google employees, and on the top of its features and benefits list is the cataloging of three times the number of webpages as Google (over 120 billion), and a unique magazine style display mechanism that is more visually intuitive than standard SERPs. Cuil is just getting off the ground, so while they have crawled a lot of sites, the actual search engine is still a little slow in returning results (perhaps due in part to their scaled down infrastructure versus that of Google), and some of the searches that we performed seemed to return too many pages from a single website (i.e. too many of the results on the “front page” were from the same website, which can be somewhat limiting). Our search for Boston Condos in Cuil displayed us as the “featured article” in the magazine style search results.

Cuil Search Engine

Google still remains king of the search engines, the speed of the engine, and the accuracy of the results, especially on long-tail searches (search phrases that are very specific in nature, Boston 285 Columbus Lofts Roofdeck, for instance), is unmatched. Nonetheless, Google’s reaction to the new entrants is positive, they encourage innovation in the industry, and by using a combination of search engines, including the new ones described here, offers a more robust search environment.

Russia Wharf Boston

Fronting the new Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Russia Wharf has had several owners thus far, but regardless, the building is still pressing forward in construction. Russia Wharf will be a mixed use development that will house financial juggernaut Wellington Management, as well as offer approximately 200 residential condo units.

Situated next to the rather new Boston Intercontinental, Russia Wharf will be in good company, and will add to the live-work mix that is developing in the Waterfront area of the city adjacent to the Financial District. With the exclusive photos below, you get a feel for the preservation of historic building exteriors that will be part of the project slated for 2011 completion.

Russia Wharf Construction

Russia Wharf Construction

Russia Wharf Construction

Beacon Hill Average Price per Square Foot

Our analysis of average price per square foot values in downtown Boston neighborhoods continues with Boston’s Beacon Hill, one of the most prestigious areas of the city to call home. Beacon Hill prices command a premium over some of the other neighborhoods that we have looked at, however, prices are in line with such neighborhoods as the Back Bay and the South End.

Thus far in 2008, according to the Boston MLS, the average price per square foot on Beacon Hill has been approximately $731 (median of $708). The data range, covering roughly 102 condos, runs from $494 to $1,283 per square foot. The lowest being $494 per square foot at 45 Mount Vernon Street Unit 1C, a 1,570 square foot two-bedroom two-bathroom unit. The average price per square foot of $731 is characteristic of Unit 9 at 1 Garden Street, a 630 square foot one-bedroom that sold for $460,000 in May after being on the market for approximately 62 days with an original listing price of $469,900. The high end was at 108 Mount Vernon Street Unit 5, a 2,128 square foot three-bedroom three-bathroom unit with a full floor, four-sided exposure and five bay windows that sold in May for $2,730,000 ($1,283 per square foot).

Penmark Boston Condos

2008 has been a good year for the Penmark Boston, with roughly 15 of the 60-unit South End development going Under Agreement or being sold. After what some would say a slow start to sales, occupancy levels have been climbing steadily. The development recently moved their model unit to another unit in the building because their previous model was one of those 15 that sold.

Currently, the Boston MLS lists 10 available units at the Penmark, ranging in size from 929 square feet up to 1,497, and in price from $557,500 to $852,500. The average price per square foot for available units is currently $612, which is quite consistent with the overall South End, and reasonable given the finishes and amenities of this new development – for comparison, see South End Average Price Per Square Foot. The SoWa (South of Washington Street) location puts you in proximity to a solid mix of amenities, but quite far south in the South End.

Open Houses are being held at the development each Sunday from noon until 3pm. After stopping in, contact us with questions, analysis of comparable properties on the market, and the benefits of leveraging a Buyer’s Agent.

Battery Wharf Condo Pricing

We have been receiving multiple inquiries lately from clients who are in the market to buy at, or are currently looking to sell their current downtown Boston condo and make a move to, Battery Wharf, along Boston’s Waterfront in the North End.

The question that we most often receive is something along the lines of “we have a budget of $X, can you share with us what is available in this range at Battery Wharf and help arrange a tour”. It’s well known that units at this new high-end development command a high price per square foot, with price tags starting in the high six figures. Here’s a rundown of units that are remaining at the (now open) Battery Wharf condo development according to the Boston MLS:

  • Unit 2305, 933 square feet, $825,000, 1 bed 1.5 baths
  • Unit 2303, 923 square feet, $825,000, 1 bed 1.5 baths
  • Unit 2403, 923 square feet, $825,000, 1 bed 1.5 baths
  • Unit 2405, 952 square feet, $825,000, 1 bed 1.5 baths
  • Unit 2307, 959 square feet, $825,000, 1 bed 1.5 baths
  • Unit 2301, 923 square feet, $825,000, 1 bed 1.5 baths
  • Unit 3306, 977 square feet, $1,150,000, 1 beds 1.5 baths
  • Unit 3601, 1,130 square feet, $1,295,000, 1 beds 1.5 baths
  • Unit 4409, 1,375 square feet, $1,650,000, 1 beds 1.5 baths
  • Unit 4503, 1,620 square feet, $1,795,000, 2 beds 2.5 baths
  • Unit 3403, 1,625 square feet, $1,850,000, 2 beds 2.5 baths
  • Unit PH4609, 1,400 square feet, $1,925,000, 2 beds 2 baths
  • Unit 4603, 1,802 square feet, $2,500,000, 2 beds 2.5 baths
  • Unit 3610, 1,745 square feet, $3,000,000, 2 beds 2.5 baths
  • Unit 3311, 2,039 square feet, $3,695,000, 3 beds 2.5 baths

Over the past several months, sales to list price ratios have average close to 98%, a very strong number. For a complete listing package of information on the above-mentioned luxury units at Battery Wharf, including photos, HOA fees, and parking information, please contact us.

Boston Roofdeck Infinity Edge Pool

It’s been listed for just over 70 days now, and is currently the most expensive single-family listing for sale in Boston proper. At $14,950,000, it has to offer something unique, and unparalleled in the heart of the city, right? 74 Beacon Street doesn’t disappoint. Regardless of whether or not the interior finishes are your style (all high-end, oftentimes in a palatial sense), the rooftop deck is what literally caps off this home and makes it perhaps the most unique in Boston at the moment.

Situated just west of Charles Street on the north side of Beacon Street, 74 Beacon Street is an 8,450 square foot residence spread over 6 floors that offers 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, 3 half-bathrooms, 8 working fireplaces, and an elevator that services all 6 levels. Parking, which is a coveted item when looking at Beacon Hill homes,  is included.

But onto the roofdeck, which again, where the 74 Beacon Street Boston Developer equipped this townhome with perhaps the most unique private roofdeck in Boston. What specifically does this home have that others don’t? A roofdeck infinity edge pool that provides panoramic views of Boston Common, the Public Garden, and the exceptional skyline. It’s a rarity for a full-blown condo development to offer a pool, so this private single-family residence is in a league of its own, and it’s well worth the elevator ride or climb up to the roof. For more information, and further photos, contact us.

Boston Rooftop Infinity Edge Pool

Boston Rooftop Infinity Edge Pool

North End Average Price Per Square Foot

Our analysis of average price per square foot values in downtown Boston neighborhoods continues with Boston’s North End. Price per square foot, as we will see, is in line with the rest of the city, however, the one significant difference that we are seeing year on year with the North End is the number of units sold. January to July 2007 saw approximately 53 condos sold in the North End, while the same time period for this year has seen only 34 sold, a substantial difference.

Nonetheless, in 2008, the average price per square foot in the North End has been approximately $578 (median of $562). The data range, covering nearly 34 condos, runs from $327 to $885 per square foot. The lowest being $327 per square foot at 21 Moon Street Unit 4, a 726 square foot condo in need of renovation work. The average price per square foot of $578 is characteristic of Unit 2 at 10 Sheafe Street, a 529 square foot 1+ duplex that sold for $305,000 in April after being on the market for approximately 140 days. The high end was at 44 Prince Street Unit 501, a 1,150 square foot three-exposure unit in the new high-end development that sold in May for $995,000 ($885 per square foot).

The North End, and almost all downtown neighborhoods that border the Waterfront area, can oftentimes be a little skewed when looking at the data because there is no consistent way in which real estate agents code the condos they are selling (i.e. one agent may code a property North End, while another may have coded a similarly located property Waterfront). As with any statistics, you need to understand the limitations of the data and factors that could impact the numbers, such as the aforementioned location issue.

Note: data pulled from the Boston MLS.

August 2008 Boston Restaurant Week

Once again, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and American Express present Restaurant Week Boston. From Sunday, August 10 through Friday, August 15 and Sunday, August 17 through Friday, August 22, 2008 diners will enjoy 3-course lunches for $20.08 and/or dinners for $33.08 at restaurants throughout Boston, Cambridge, the suburbs and beyond.

Price is per person and excludes beverage, tax and gratuity. View the restaurants by neighborhood for sample menus and online reservation links through the official OpenTable.com website.

Restaurant Week Boston (August 2008)
$20.08 Lunches and $33.08 Dinners
August 10 – 15 & August 17 – 22

What's Left at Broadluxe?

Following the successful Broadluxe condo auction on June 21, 2008, and multiple post-auction (accepted) offers, there are currently six (6) of the original 44 units left for sale. Details of what remains at the Broad Street Financial District development are below.

  • 2F – $456,875 – 755 square foot studio
  • 3G – $361,250 – 541 square foot studio
  • 4F – $361,250 – 544 square foot studio
  • 5F – $361,250 – 539 square foot studio
  • 7C – $690,000 – 1,312 square foot duplex
  • 7D – $640,000 – 1,220 square foot duplex

Note the reduced list prices on the duplex units (each with 2.5 baths). Contact us to discuss the property further and get a tour.

Note: As of July 23, 2008, the penthouse units (priced at $1,018,500 and $1,023,750) fell out of agreement, and are now available again.