Seaport Neighborhood - Infill and Discussion

Re: Innovation District

400SF is extremely tiny.........if this was NYC somebody would be looking for a roommate.
 
Re: Innovation District

Obviously it isn't going to be for everyone but the fact is there is a large demographic out there of post-college workers who need housing but don't need all the "extras" of owning a place or renting with roommates. This isn't long term housing, it's for people who only need a place where they can be in the middle of everything they need. In a year or 2 they get in a relationship and move to a bigger place. I honestly think this will prove to be so popular that we will see many more of these, especially in the Fenway with all the students.
 
Re: Innovation District

vanshnookenraggen said:
If there is a demand for it then it will work. If not then the apartments will go unrented or they will combine two studios into a tiny 1 bed.

Not everyone needs a house.
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It will work if there are enough external amenities. I have a friend who used to live in one of those tiny apartments on Beacon Hill, and he told me when he decided to move, it was that he had realized that he only slept there, and did everything else outside of the unit. Once he wanted to not always have to go out for entertainment/dining/relaxation, he realized he needed more space.
 
Re: Innovation District

This is exactly what this city needs. Transitional/affordable housing for the 22-35 year old white collar worker looking to become established in the city without the initial financial burden of our inflated rents.

Micro-Units, Effeciency Apartments, SRO's...San Francisco has done a good job of converting old hotels into these types of housing. Of course they arent always in the best areas but it's a model this city can make work. A lot of people in that age group don't need full amenities to be happy.

It's good to see Menino not just red-stamping another 'full service luxury' development that's destined for the auction block.
 
Re: Innovation District

HenryAlan said:
It will work if there are enough external amenities. I have a friend who used to live in one of those tiny apartments on Beacon Hill, and he told me when he decided to move, it was that he had realized that he only slept there, and did everything else outside of the unit. Once he wanted to not always have to go out for entertainment/dining/relaxation, he realized he needed more space.
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Just a place to shit, shower, and shave as we say.
 
Re: Innovation District

You forgot sleep and shtup.
 
Re: Innovation District

This is a good thing, I imagine if a building like this was in Allston, it would actually be affordable. Like 700 a month.
 
Re: Innovation District

I'm living in a ~300 sq. ft. studio in the Back Bay right now for about $1,450/month (heat, hot water, AND electric included). I've hosted a super bowl party and an Oscar party in the past at my place with about 7 guests both times. I've got a comfortable futon and lounger facing a TV where people come over to watch movies on. I've got a twin-XL bed to sleep on and a work desk to go on my computer/do HW. I live less than a 5-minute walk from 4 T stations, the Prudential Center, Symphony Hall, Whole Foods, Shaw's, my school (Northeastern), and the SW Corridor Park.

As long as these "micro units" they're proposing to build offer a similar list of amenities in the neighborhood, I'm confident folks like me will flock to the Innovation District to live in them. And at 375 sq. ft., these units sound like an upgrade!
 
Re: Innovation District

The key is having actual decent communal spaces.

Like a cruiseship. Tiny cabins, but youre almost never in there.

-Rooftop patios, with bar area, grill, lounging area etc
-Small gym
-TV room
-Billiards/card areas
-Party room
-Study room/library
 
Re: Innovation District

GW2500 said:
This is a good thing, I imagine if a building like this was in Allston, it would actually be affordable. Like 700 a month.
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That's true, but it would go against the entire value of these buildings - Being in the heart of the city, right next to work.
 
Re: Innovation District

ParkerChris said:
I was thinking this same thing - I can definitely see upper-management of Vertex/Start-up renting out one of these units to use as their "crash-pad" during the week, while their "proper" residence is in the burbs.

I'm not 100% convinced that the 20-30 yr old demo is going to take to these quite as well - like you said, Southie is a short distance and is very popular amongst 20-30 somethings. However, 1 bedrooms are very difficult to come across, and not everyone wants a roommate (esp within this age group), so I could be wrong.
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I would see it the opposite way. I can't imagine anyone making six figures a year would want to be holed up in a shoebox like this when they can afford something better.

I also think the vast majority of 20-30-year-olds would opt for a larger place, either with roommates or alone, elsewhere. However, 300 units are a drop in the bucket compared to all of Boston's housing stock. It won't be hard to find that many people to rent these places. I have doubts as to how many similar buildings could be built and still find willing renters, though.
 
Re: Innovation District

Of the 300 units mentioned, 150 are on Seaport Square, where the land owners announce exciting new projects every year for the past 5 years without a single shovel touching the ground.

50 units are on Pier 4 -- also years off, after a decade sitting on approvals.

That leaves 381 Congress - maybe a year away.

And 63 Melcher -- unlikely to move forward without a flip of ownership first.

So, in a year there should be 27 of these on the market. I'd bank on them being snapped up by savvy investors working on some kind of sublease for executive stay.
 
Re: Innovation District

ParkerChris said:
I was thinking this same thing - I can definitely see upper-management of Vertex/Start-up renting out one of these units to use as their "crash-pad" during the week, while their "proper" residence is in the burbs.

I'm not 100% convinced that the 20-30 yr old demo is going to take to these quite as well - like you said, Southie is a short distance and is very popular amongst 20-30 somethings. However, 1 bedrooms are very difficult to come across, and not everyone wants a roommate (esp within this age group), so I could be wrong.
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I would see it the opposite way. I can't imagine anyone making six figures a year would want to be holed up in a shoebox like this when they can afford something better.

I also think the vast majority of 20-30-year-olds would opt for a larger place, either with roommates or alone, elsewhere. However, 300 units are a drop in the bucket compared to all of Boston's housing stock. It won't be hard to find that many people to rent these places. I have doubts as to how many similar buildings could be built and still find willing renters, though.
 
Re: Innovation District

itchy said:
I would see it the opposite way. I can't imagine anyone making six figures a year would want to be holed up in a shoebox like this when they can afford something better.

I also think the vast majority of 20-30-year-olds would opt for a larger place, either with roommates or alone, elsewhere. However, 300 units are a drop in the bucket compared to all of Boston's housing stock. It won't be hard to find that many people to rent these places. I have doubts as to how many similar buildings could be built and still find willing renters, though.
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What I was referring to is upper-management/CEOs who currently rent out apartments in the South End or Back Bay for long work nights but hold permanent addresses in the burbs. It happens, quite a bit. These units would be perfect for that.

I don't think single 20-30 year olds would mind such a small place, but 1500 is still relatively expensive for sub-400 square feet. It all depends on the environment that is build around these units. If it's Liberty Warf, then I can see it. If it remains parking lots for much longer, I cannot.
 
Re: Innovation District

And so convenient to public transportation!
 
Re: Innovation District

JohnAKeith said:
And so convenient to public transportation!
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Why is everyone so hung up on this? I've taken the Silver Line dozens of times, and have been satisfied with its consistency (same can't be said for any other lines of the T) and effectiveness of bringing me to Logan or acting as a shuttle to South Station. Also, most of the ID (Fort Point and the parking lot section, at least) is located within a 10 minute walk from South Station's Red Line stop. In my eyes the ID is MUCH more accessible than Kendall.
 
Re: Innovation District

^ParkerChris

1. Fort Point represents a small fraction of "Innovation District" boundaries. See the map at http://www.innovationdistrict.org/. For the record, the BRA has also acknowledged that Fort Point West (Atlantic Wharf and One Financial Center) are in the bounds of the Innovation District.

2. If you imagine development on core blocks of the Waterfront, they are too far from South Station. Same goes for the Marine Industrial Park. Liberty Wharf, BCEC, ICA, Harborlights, etc.

3. At full build (25-50 yrs from now) we're talking about somewhere around 30 million square feet of new density, mostly office/hotel/residential towers. You can't look at empty Silver Line buses today and draw conclusions about decades to follow, especially if it takes a decade to execute a conversion to light rail.

4. Significant new construction in Kendall Square may also run into trouble for lack of public transportation in reasonably close proximity. I'd be surprised with all the $$$ flowing into Kendall that MIT and City of Cambridge weren't planning a rail expansion.
 
Re: Innovation District

Significant new construction in Kendall Square may also run into trouble for lack of public transportation in reasonably close proximity. I'd be surprised with all the $$$ flowing into Kendall that MIT and City of Cambridge weren't planning a rail expansion.
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I'm not buying the idea that Kendall is lacking for transit. Kendall station is centrally located relative to the new density, and both Lechmere and Central are within easy distance of some newer developments. The only rail extensions that may be in the works would be CR or some form of rapid transit on the Grand Junction, or - more wishfulthinkingly - a red line branch down Mass Ave into Back Bay to increase connectivity.

Seaport? Even if the SL gets a light rail conversion in its current form terminating at South Station, many T riders will require 2 transfers to get to Liberty Wharf. Blue line riders will require 3 transfers! I've said this many times before, that any SL upgrade would need to tie into the Green Line, even via a surface Essex Street option I've outlined.
 
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