***Site Update***

NOTE: After examining the schedule for orientation, I can safely say that BHP Development will be back to normal operation on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.
For the coming days (could possibly be a week), BHP Development will sort of go into hibernation. Today I am driving down to college (Franklin and Marshall), tomorrow is the move [...]

Four Arcade Businesses Win, Two Lose Eviction Battle

Built in 1828, the Westminster Street Arcade is the oldest indoor mall in the United States. The Arcade may not hold that distinction much longer, as owner Granoff Properties have plans to renovate the structure into a single tenant building. However, a recent ruling by a Superior Court judge may delay that process a little [...]

Alexandria Reviewing Cambridge Biotech Plan

In response to heavy criticism regarding their $1 billion plan to build a new biotech campus in Cambridge, California based developer Alexandria is going back to the drawing boards to review their proposal.
Alexandria’s initial plans called for a 15 acre swath of land to be developed into an array of lab buildings dedicated to the [...]

Newsworthy Notes: August 26, 2008

Interesting Article on Grabauskas: If you have any interest in reading an article about the man behind the MBTA, this is it. It discusses the state of the T, Daniel Grabauskas himself, and some of the scandals and initiatives that have occurred throughout his tenure. Mostly just interesting information rather than any new news, but, [...]

Park Street Headhouse will Close for Repairs

The MBTA will close the Park Street stop’s outbound headhouse for over a month starting in early January in an effort to completely overhaul the deteriorating stairwell.
For 39 days, crews will work to repair what has become “a potential public safety hazard” according to MBTA assistant general manager of design and construction Charles O’Reilly. While [...]

Real Estate Roundup: August 25, 2008

TriZetto, PowerAdvocate Among Companies Coming to 179 Lincoln:
Millennium Partners, the developer of the the prominent Ritz-Carlton Boston Common towers in downtown Boston, has reportedly leased 100,000 square feet at 179 Lincoln Street.
Located in the Leather District, the five story building was built in 1899 and is currently undergoing a renovation. Improvements include a new lobby [...]

Trinity Long Walk will Open in Time for First Semester

In what began as an effort to restore one of the more historically significant portions of its campus, Trinity College in Hartford has finally completed the $33 million overhaul of the Long Walk. Everything will be open by the time students arrive on campus for the first semester.
Considerable changes and improvements were made to both [...]

Boston Looking to Encourage Wind Turbine Development

With oil prices sky high and the world more concerned than ever regarding state of the environment, the city of Boston is looking to do its part in helping to break the trend.
City officials are looking to enact legislation that would permit private developers to build wind turbines in certain sections of the city. Three [...]

Comm Ave Building to Become Condos

The one time home of the Provident Skilled Nursing Center has taken a step forward in the goal to revitalize the three story building into 57 condos, 19 or which will be considered affordable.
City officials have embarked on a year long process (that started late last month) the finalize the plans and sale of the [...]

Hartford Developer in Hot Water

David Nyberg has done several projects throughout the city of Hartford, and has generated a solid reputation, mostly due to the fact that he has been able to complete his projects without any public subsidy. Now, as Nyberg works on housing for the Connecticut Culinary Institute, he has fallen into hot water with the city.
The [...]

Newsworthy Notes: August 22, 2008

BRA Mulls Over Mayor’s Proposal: It was recently reported that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was pushing to pass legislation that would require developers to prove that they have proper finacing before they begin construction. If they don’t begin construction within 18 months, the developer would have to face the BRA again to explain his delay. [...]

New Rendering for Seaport Square

The following is a rendering of the first residential building that will go up next to the Barking Crab:
Here is a quick rundown of the specific of this particular building:

Square Feet: 110,000
Floors: 6 (four condos, 2 retail – there is one level of underground parking)
Units: 34
Retail Space: 20,000 square feet

This building will be considered the [...]

Despite Shaky Market, Parcel 24 Moving Forward

Simply called Parcel 24 in Chinatown, the primarily residential project is defying the odds by actually making progress when most other residential projects are fizzling out, causing delays (some of them significant) to construction progress.
The Asian Community Development Corporation and New Boston Fund Inc. have jointly proposed a mixed-use development that would boast 325 housing [...]

Struever Brothers set for Phase II of ALCO Project

Struever Brothers, Eccles & Rouse, a Baltimore-based development company that specializes in rehabbing old buildings and areas, is ready to move forward with the second phase in the huge ALCO project in The Valley neighborhood of downtown Providence.
ALCO, named after the American Locomotive Company (a prominent company that used to be located in some of [...]

RIPTA Begins Process for Service Cutbacks

Officials for the Rhode Island public transportation system (RIPTA) have begun the process of what could result in significant service cuts in order to cover a rising budget deficit.
After amounting a $10 million budget deficit (a hole that is only expected to get worse if RIPTA does not make some move to counteract the downtrend), [...]

Need for More Rooms Rises as Convention Center Looks to Expand

There are currently 1,700 hotel rooms within walking distance of the South Boston Covention Center, less than half of what officials believe are needed. Now, with the Convention Center looking to significantly expand its space to attract more conventions, the lack of hotel rooms – particularly moderately priced ones – is becoming even more of [...]

Newsworthy Notes: August 21, 2008

Editorial Regarding State of City Playgrounds: A new editorial regarding the state of Boston’s playgrounds is revealing the poor maintenance in some of Boston’s neighborhoods. The writer toured several tot lots, and concluded that playgrounds in the Back Bay, Chinatown, and the waterfront can expect clean, well maintained parks, but those in Roxbury, South Boston, [...]

Developers Claim Hotel Sierra is Still on the Table

The buildings that once housed the bar Talk of the Town and restaurants Cuban Revolution and New Japan have been knocked down, leaving a vacant hole in the ground. So far, nothing has come along to replace it.
Developers of the delayed Hotel Sierra (a moderately priced hotel like many of the other flooding onto the [...]

State to Take over New Lechmere Station

After long delays and nasty court battles regarding the massive NorthPoint development in Cambridge, the state is finally starting to take matters into their own hands.
The state Executive Office of Transportation has said that they will take over the construction of the new Lechmere Green Line station. A new station at Lechmere is critical to [...]

Mayor wants Developers to Prove Financing before Construction

As we speak, there are two major holes in the city’s urban fabric that are the result of stalled development – mostly due to financing issues.
The two specific locations are in Downtown Crossing (the site of the new Filene’s Tower that seemed to be making good progress before it was revealed yesterday that developers were [...]

RFP Issued for Roslindale Substation

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has reportedly issued a Request for Proposals regarding the substation across from Adams Park in Roslindale.
According to the RFP, the BRA is looking for a developer that can successfully maintain the architectural style. Additionally, officials will be partial to proposals that are focused on retail and commercial uses for the site. [...]

Budget Shows BRA Cashing In

In a memo released regarding its 2009 fiscal budget, it was revealed that the Boston Redevelopment Authority also acts as a developer, expecting to bring in money from equity stakes and land and building sales. While the BRA defends its actions, not everyone is hopping on board.
According to the memo, the BRA could rake in [...]

MBTA Plans New $40M Orange Line Station

MBTA and federal transportation officials (including Mary Peters, the US Secretary of Transportation) met yesterday at the banks of the Mystic River and announced that a plan to construct a new $40 million Orange Line next to the Assembly Square Mall.
The location of the new station would be between the Sullivan Square and Wellington stops. [...]

Funding Slows Down New Filene’s Project

A few construction workers and only a couple of pieces of heavy equipment are  currently on site. They seem to be pushing dirt around, not making much noticeable headway. The site is the property of the new Filene’s tower in Downtown Crossing, a project that could completely revitalize the entire district.
The project is being held [...]

Newsworthy Notes: August 19, 2008

New Security Measures could make Providence Bay more Secure: A plan to bring additional security cameras and radar to the shipping port in Providence could make the port one of the most secure ports in the country. The additional technology would give officials the ability to watch virtually every ship from the Atlantic all the [...]