Cambridge Crossing (NorthPoint) | East Cambridge/Charlestown | Cambridge/Boston

Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

northpoint24 said:
perhaps that's for 22 Water st?
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There is definitely excavation going on for 22 Water Street. They finished demolition a few weeks ago and I think they are digging for soil testing now. The plan is to drive piles in September or October.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

The Leaf building is lit up like the holidays at night, too: at least, the upper floors.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

Cambridge again has more cranes than Boston at the moment
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

davem said:
Loft spaces in old warehouses are hugely desirable, something you can't replicate in new construction, and make loads of money because people pay for the ambiance and half the time you don't even have to build more then bathroom walls.

It's more sustainable, from an embodied energy aspect, to keep an existing building then tear it down (consuming energy), dispose of the materials (wasting space/resources/energy), and building a new one (producing new materials/wasting energy).

It's a nod to the fact that the neighborhood does have roots in something older.

It's a solid building with generously high floor plates, lots of room to open up between columns for walls of windows, and perfect width for residential.
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Older buildings in Cambridge may be built closer to the road than new building zoning may allow. Therefore, if you have an old building and it's right up against the road, once you knock that down, the city may require you carry the new structure back farther from the roadside. I have a house that is settling. I'd love to be able to knock it downn and go again but the city will make me move further back.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

Lame. Setbacks suck. Get a variance?
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

Did anyone notice a few more pieces of equipment in the old lot between Sierra/Tango and the green line? (East and Glassworks) At first I thought it could be fore the Maple project - but one of the units yesterday (Monday) was a grader.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

Tango said:
http://
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Worst rendering evar:

sp175ma3_application_Page_01.jpg
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

That is a terrible rendering. It ignores the fact that the Archstone Apartments are on the right across a narrow street and that Regatta Riverview towers are right across the Gilmore Bridge. It makes it seem as if the Mapleleaf Building is in the middle of a field.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

Tango said:
That is a terrible rendering. It ignores the fact that the Archstone Apartments are on the right across a narrow street and that Regatta Riverview towers are right across the Gilmore Bridge. It makes it seem as if the Mapleleaf Building is in the middle of a field.
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Plus, the building looks like a Holiday Inn in Sandusky, OH. Hookers and truckers. Hookers and truckers.

EDIT: Sorry, I stayed in a really sketchy Holiday Inn in the middle of OH when I was moving to Chicago many years back.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

Tango said:
http://
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If I didn't have the rest of the information I would have thought they were tearing this down to put up something better.

Actually, now that I think about it, I don't have all the information. Is this a rehab job, or a brand new building?
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

From an email that just crossed my desk.

AvalonBay's 100 micro studios in the REIT's adaptive re-use at North Point in East Cambridge will average $5.50 per square foot per month.

Yep. So, 450-square feet (minimum) x $5.50 = $2,475.

Housing crisis solved!
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

JohnAKeith said:
From an email that just crossed my desk.

AvalonBay's 100 micro studios in the REIT's adaptive re-use at North Point in East Cambridge will average $5.50 per square foot per month.

Yep. So, 450-square feet (minimum) x $5.50 = $2,475.

Housing crisis solved!
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I suppose that is the price of new construction, right?

I was apartment hunting in East Cambridge a year ago and rents were about half that per square foot and included off-street parking and a deck or yard. Of course, those were old houses on dingy streets and this is a shiny new building isolated from neighbors.

I suppose part of the theory of the micro unit pricing is all the included amenities. Sure, you don't have anywhere to put "stuff" in your apartment, but you don't need "stuff". Your building has everything! Pay us rent instead of buying kitchen equipment, a grill, patio furniture, or a gym membership! Save money on furniture, there isn't anywhere to put it!

I have too many hobbies that take up too much space for me to live in one, but the price isn't so outrageous. If it was significantly cheaper it would be the same price as all the old crusty houses in East Cambridge. There has be a premium price for a premium place.

A good comparison would be with the lux towers along the Charles there. Have rent/sq ft on studios and one-beds in those?
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

I think this is a terrible use of a run-down building. Who would want to pay that much money to live in a tiny apartment? They should've demolished the building and built a taller high-rise rental building.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

I'm all for more housing and an efficient use of space, but this $2,400 for a 450 sq. ft. fad is going to fall on its face. The best way to lower the cost of housing is to build more of it. Don't be afraid of height, and pre approve certain site to be as of right 300-500ft (or higher) of residential. Then just let people go for it. You can balance good city planning and streamlined development. It's this constant back and forth and gaming of the system that gets costs way higher than just a land+construction cost.

It's hopefully never going to be cheap to live in Boston/Cambridge because there is a lot of demand. The entire area is essentially a premium product and will command a premium price, but there is a limit where it will just drop.
 
Re: NorthPoint Cambridge (The one that was train yards, the big plan.)

^^^ Your correct, my mistake in posting it on this thread. I did see earth movers working on what looked to be parcels B & C, and maybe even I. Have you noticed this?


Northpoint site plan
 
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