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Not as much call for new retail space these days, so Kenmore Square developer going for some more R&D space
By adamg on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 12:03pm
Related Beal, which is re-doing the Citgo Sign block in Kenmore Square, has asked the BPDA for permission to shift about 12,000 square feet of planned ground-floor retail space in one building to laboratory space for the biotech R&D companies it hopes to attract.
The company cites "the realities of the current real estate markets" for making the change.
It says the change won't be noticeable from the street - the space is well behind the storefronts, which would now have about 8,600 square feet of retail space - and will have minimal impact on the building's overall exterior design or impact on the neighborhood.
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Comments
Good plan
That would be a very convenient location for biotech R&D. They're always looking for T-accessible space.
meh
Good location for R&D, but don't take away from the first floor.
OR!! you could just slow down
OR!! you could just slow down new construction as deman in the city is at an all-time low. Just saying.
Have you been by there lately?
It's a big old hole in the ground (or it was a couple months ago.) It's not like they can easily just let it sit idle for a year while the market gets back on it's feet.
Been there
done that.
Why?
Unless you're an investor in this company, why would you care whether or not people continue to build new buildings? I don't get it.
Changing the urban landscape
Changing the urban landscape affects all of us. Just because something is good for developer profits doesn't mean it's a good thing for the neighborhood.
Why is this
A bad thing for the neighborhood? I don’t see an actual argument here.
So?
It doesn't mean its bad for the neighborhood either. I'm not seeing any actual arguments against this, especially since it's currently a big hole in the ground.
Maybe this building will be
Maybe this building will be an exception. But usually these megaprojects end up as faceless sterile boxes, and any retail is high-rent large spaces only available to national chains or overpriced pretentious places. For example, see the Hotel Commonwealth which replaced a bunch of buildings including Deli Haus.
Here's what we've lost: https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/mfI5L5nJFQbltsqeEUD4dA/o.jpg
Hmm, correction to my
Hmm, correction to my previous post: Deli Haus was a block east of the Hotel Commonwealth, and the building wasn't torn down. But my point stands: Hotel Commonwealth is a bland box that changed the neighborhood for the worse.
you obviously didn't read the article...
Demand for lab space is at an all-time high. This is a smart move.
OR!! You could look at interest rates
and realize that money is close to free so there's never been a better time to take out huge construction loans and bet on the future of Boston real estate.
How big is Kenmore Square?
How big is Kenmore Square? Who lives there other than students?
thousands of people do, and very few students. Nice try.
Me and about a thousand of other people do. Actually very few students. Nice try.
Glad to see high wealth
Glad to see high wealth keeping the Citgo sign alive. A mural of the light of the Citgo sign shining down in Mr. Butch definitely needs to be done. Now HE was cool cat! RIP my brother. I'll never forget you making a celebrity appearance under the shimmering aura of the Citgo sign to all waiting in line at Narcissus and Lipstick. Your confidence and swagger and smile and friendliness stood out. Thank you Related Beal for at least keeping the Citgo shine on. CITGO FROM THE GIT GO BABY!!