Boston Biochem Renews 6,000 SF Lease at 840 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, MA
March 10, 2010

Boston, MA – Boston Biochem, Inc., a provider of ubiquitin-related research products, has renewed a 6,000-square-foot lease for its headquarters at 840 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Mass. Colliers Meredith & Grew’s Tucker Hansen and Ben Coffin represented Boston Biochem in the transaction, working with Director of Acquisitions Marc Goldstein of The Abbey Group, the landlord. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

Built in 1980 and renovated in 2002, 840 Memorial Drive is a five-story, 130,000-square-foot first-class office and laboratory building located along the Charles River between Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Colliers Meredith & Grew Arranges Two Leases Totaling 13,730 SF at 161 First Street in Cambridge, MA
March 9, 2010

Boston, MA – Colliers Meredith & Grew represented Sedo.com, LLC and Genocea Biosciences Inc. in two leases totaling 13,730 square feet at 161 First Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Vice President Tucker Hansen and Associate Ben Coffin of Colliers Meredith & Grew worked with Vice President Eric Smith of Richards Barry Joyce & Partners who represented the landlord, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., in the transactions. Sedo.com renewed a 9,358-square-foot lease and Genocea Biosciences expanded by 4,372 square feet to a total of 13,568 square feet. Details of the specific leases were not disclosed.

161 First Street is a brick & beam, 45,820-square-foot, four-story lab and office building located in the heart of the East Cambridge market. The location benefits from its proximity to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, numerous technology and biotech companies, research facilities, hotels and the CambridgeSide Galleria Mall.

Leeanne Rizzo Joins Colliers Meredith & Grew's Suburban Brokerage Group
March 8, 2010

Boston, MA – Leeanne Rizzo has joined Colliers Meredith & Grew as an Assistant Vice President in the Suburban Brokerage group, focusing on brokerage activities in the Route 128 Mass Pike market. She will work closely with Executive Vice President James Elcock and Senior Vice President John Carroll III. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rizzo spent five years at FHO Partners.

"Leeanne brings a great real estate experience to Colliers Meredith & Grew," said Carroll. "We are very fortunate to have someone with her reputation and real estate aptitude on our team."

Ms. Rizzo earned a B.S. degree in Government from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She is an active member of the Commercial Brokers Association and the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties. Ms. Rizzo resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Stryker Development Leases 6,948 SF at 150 Bear Hill Road in Waltham, Massachusetts
March 1, 2010

Boston, MA – Stryker Development, a division of Stryker Corporation, has executed a new 6,948-square-foot lease to relocate its operations from One Kendall Square in Cambridge to 150 Bear Hill Road in Waltham, Mass. The move will take place in April 2010.

Colliers Meredith & Grew's Tucker Hansen and Tim O’Brien represented Stryker Development in the transaction. Associate Alex Plaisted of CB Richard Ellis/New England represented the landlord, King Street Properties LLC. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

Built in 1980 and renovated in 1998, 150 Bear Hill Road is two-story, 17,200-square-foot laboratory and office building located off Route 128 in Waltham, Mass.

ConVerge Diagnostic Services Expands at 200 Corporate Place in Peabody, MA
February 11, 2010

Boston, Massachusetts — ConVerge Diagnostic Services (ConVerge), one of New England’s largest independent regional anatomic pathology laboratories, recently renewed and expanded its lease to 22,000 square feet at 200 Corporate Place in Peabody, Massachusetts. The lease represents a 5,000-square-foot expansion for the firm.

Joe Flaherty and Andy Whipple of Colliers Meredith & Grew represented ConVerge in the transaction. The landlord, Aegean Capital, LLC, was represented internally by Peter Tilden, Director of Leasing. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

Built in 1985, 200 Corporate Place is a single-story 48,189-square-foot flex building located near the intersection of Route 1 and Interstate 95.

Colliers Meredith & Grew Brokers Sale of Page Farm Site in Topsfield, MA
C.P. Berry Commences Construction on Townhome Development
February 9, 2010

Boston, Massachusetts — Colliers Meredith & Grew has successfully brokered the sale of the former Page Farm site in Topsfield, Massachusetts for $5 million to C.P. Berry Construction Company (C.P. Berry). The landmark 68-acre site located on Route 1 was the former suburban home and equestrian center of George Page, Boston-area hotel operator and restaurateur. The transaction closed in January 2010.

Colliers Meredith & Grew Senior Vice President Bob Cronin and Chairman Tom Hynes represented the seller, Boston College. In 1989, the college received the property from a local benefactor with the intent that the site would be developed as a suburban corporate conference and spiritual retreat center. In 2006, Boston College designated the site as a “surplus” real estate asset and hired Colliers Meredith & Grew to actively market the property for sale.

“Given the landmark significance of the Page Farm site, the sale process was very challenging since a number of hurdles had to be overcome by C.P. Berry including land conservation issues, rezoning requirement and complicated site characteristics,” said Cronin. “Ultimately, due to the quality of the builder and the development, the importance of the project as it relates to providing a valuable senior-housing option and the spirit of cooperation that was shown by the Town of Topsfield, Boston College and C.P. Berry, the transaction resulted in a true ‘win win’ for all parties involved.”

Colliers Meredith & Grew also represented C.P. Berry in the transaction. According to Alan Berry, Principal of C.P. Berry, the firm has begun construction of English Commons at Topsfield, a 50-unit high-end townhome community for residents age 55 and over. A model home will open in July. Some of the firm’s previous development projects include the Homes at Ipswich Country Club and the award-winning Caldwell Farm townhouse development in Newbury.

“English Commons is an exciting undertaking. It is beautiful property in a great rural North Shore town that is convenient to shopping, major highways, entertainment, restaurants and historical sites in the area,” added Berry. “We will continue the tradition of open space planning and quality building design and construction from our Caldwell Farm development. The environmentally-friendly site design and building practices, as well as the New England architecture, will create a community Topsfield can be proud to have within their borders.”

Spectrum Microwave Leases 42,832 Square Feet at Marlborough Technology Park
February 8, 2010

Boston, Massachusetts — Spectrum Microwave, Inc., a market leader in the world of RF & Microwave components and systems, has executed a new 42,832-square-foot lease to relocate its Marlborough, Massachusetts operations to 400 Nickerson Road located in Marlborough Technology Park. The firm will relocate from 165 Cedar Hill Street, Marlborough in May 2010. The move represents a 16,000-square-foot expansion.

The Colliers Meredith & Grew team of Jim Elcock, Bill Lynch and Tim O’Brien represented Spectrum Microwave. Paul Leone of Richard Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC represented the landlord, Normandy Real Estate Partners. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

“After evaluating several options, we chose to relocate to Marlborough Technology Park based on its location, amenities and quality of the space,” says Gregg Davis, General Manager of Marlborough Operations for Spectrum Microwave. “It was a perfect fit to accommodate growing operations.”

Marlborough Technology Park consists of seven first-class office buildings totaling 573,576 square feet. Located on Nickerson Road off Interstate 495, the business center provides access to the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 290, Routes 128 and 9. On-site amenities include ample parking, a full-service cafeteria, conference facilities and a fitness center.

Campanelli Companies Hires Colliers Meredith & Grew to Lease 300 Crown Colony in Quincy, MA
January 12, 2010

Boston, Massachusetts — Colliers Meredith & Grew, one of the top full-service commercial real estate firms in New England, announced today that it was appointed by Braintree-based Campanelli Companies as the exclusive leasing agent for 300 Crown Colony in Quincy, Massachusetts. Campanelli Companies purchased the building earlier this month as part of a value-added acquisition strategy that brought its development total to over 1.9 million square feet on 290 acres in the last five years.

300 Crown Colony is a five-story, 118,000-square-foot, first-class office building located in premier Crown Colony Park at the intersection of Interstate 93 and Routes 128 and 3. The property is 70 percent leased and features 25,000-square-foot floor plates, a full-service café, conference facility, ample parking and a five-story atrium.

“300 Crown Colony was an excellent acquisition and we have high expectations for its future,” said Peter Brown, Director of leasing at Campanelli Companies.

Crown Colony Park is an eleven-building signature business center consisting of approximately 1.5 million square feet of office and medical space. Amenities include the Boston Marriott Quincy hotel and restaurants and Bright Horizons daycare facility. In addition to immediate highway access via recently completed access ramps, Crown Colony Park offers shuttle service to the Quincy Adams MBTA station and commuter rail. Corporate tenants include State Street Bank, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Arbella Insurance Company and Boston Financial Data Services.

“Existing tenants and new tenants alike will benefit immensely from the unparalleled level of service that Campanelli Companies has been providing to its clients for decades,” said James Elcock, Executive Vice President at Colliers Meredith & Grew. “We are thrilled to be apart of the 300 Crown Colony team and look forward to a successful leasing campaign.”

In addition to Elcock, the Colliers Meredith & Grew leasing effort will be led by Assistant Vice Presidents David Goodhue and Caleb Hudak.

November 25, 2009
Consensus Building Institute Renews 4,879 Square-Foot Lease at 238 Main Street
in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts — Consensus Building Institute (CBI), a not-for-profit organization that promotes effective negotiations, builds consensus and resolves conflicts, has recently renewed a 4,879 square-foot lease for its corporate headquarters at 238 Main Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Colliers Meredith & Grew team of Tucker Hansen and Ben Coffin represented CBI and the landlord, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the transaction. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

238 Main Street is a five-story, 79,000-square-foot office building located in the heart of Kendall Square and adjacent to the MIT Campus. The building provides convenient access to the area’s numerous amenities, including restaurants, hotels and service retail. The MBTA Red Line subway station is located directly in front of the building’s main entrance.

E Ink Corporation Renews 42,280 Square-Foot Lease at 733 Concord Avenue
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
November 24, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — E Ink Corporation, a leading supplier of electronic paper display technologies, has recently renewed a 42,280-square-foot lease for its corporate headquarters at 733 Concord Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts. E Ink Corporation occupies the entire two-story, 42,280-square-foot office & laboratory building.

Colliers Meredith & Grew’s Tad Lee represented E Ink Corporation in the transaction. New Boston Fund, the landlord, was represented by Colliers Meredith & Grew’s Joe Flaherty. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

Colliers Meredith & Grew Secures $7.5 Million Refinancing for Marshalls Plaza in Newton, MA
November 24, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — Colliers Meredith & Grew’s Capital Markets group has secured a $7.5 million refinancing for a two-building, 62,589-square-foot retail plaza located at 241-281 Needham Street in Newton, Massachusetts. The plaza is 99% leased to retail tenants including Marshalls Inc., CVS and AAA Southern New England.

Vice President John Broderick of Colliers Meredith & Grew represented the borrower, Northland Investment Corporation. The Washington Trust Company, a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., financed the transaction. The five-year, fixed-rate loan closed on October 29, 2009.

“The financing was widely sought after by many lending institutions due to the high quality of the asset and the strong sponsorship of Northland Investment,” said Broderick. “Washington Trust recognized these strengths and delivered very attractive financing terms in these unsettled economic times.”

Colliers Meredith & Grew Brokers Sale of The Bartlett School in Waltham, MA
November 18, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — The Colliers Meredith & Grew team of Executive Vice President James Elcock and Assistant Vice President Katharine Barry has successfully negotiated the sale and disposition of a 58,000-square-foot, 5.8-acre campus in Waltham on behalf of the Bartlett School to the Carroll School. The Carroll School, an independent primary school for students with diagnosed learning disabilities such as dyslexia, will use the newly acquired property as an expansion to its main campus in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

“A number of very interested parties were attracted to the Bartlett School once the property became available for sale. The Bartlett School trustees are thrilled to finalize a transaction with the Carroll School, where educating children will continue,” said Elcock.

Located on Trapelo Road in Waltham, the two-building Bartlett School campus consists of a 50,156-square-foot, single-story brick school building with functional lower level and a 7,830-square-foot, state-of-the-art gymnasium constructed in 2004-2005. The school’s Board of Trustees voted on March 9, 2009 to close the school at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year due to a decline in the number of returning students.

Outcome Sciences Leases 29,647 Square Feet at 201 Broadway in Cambridge, Massachusetts
November 17, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — Outcome Sciences, Inc. (“Outcome”), the leading provider of patient registries, studies, and technologies for evaluating real-world outcomes, has recently renewed and expanded its office lease to 29,647 square feet at 201 Broadway in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

been professional in every respect and has accommodated our growth needs. No organization maintains or operates buildings as well as they do. It is our pleasure to be a tenant at 201 Broadway.”

The Colliers Meredith & Grew team of Joe Flaherty, Tucker Hansen and Ben Coffin represented Outcome in the transaction with the landlord, The Davis Companies, represented by Duncan Gilkey, Senior Vice President. Specifics of the five (5) year lease transaction were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to have Outcome expand again at 201 Broadway,” says Gilkey. “Outcome is a great partner and we are glad to accommodate its growth. We look forward to continuing our long-term relationship.”

Built in 1988, 201 Broadway is a Class A office building located in the heart of Kendall Square, just three blocks from the MIT campus and surrounded by numerous technology and life science industry leaders. The building features an inviting lobby, efficient floor plates with abundant window line, in-building garage parking, on-site café, and excellent access to area retail and urban amenities. The MBTA Red Line station at Kendall Square is a five-minute walk from the building. Additional 201 Broadway tenants include Mitsubishi Electronic Research Lab, Sonos, Inc, Weidlinger Associates, Inc. and Curl, Inc.

New SIOR candidates accepted into New England Chapter
November 13, 2009

New England Real Estate Journal — The New England SIOR Chapter has accepted three new candidates for the SIOR designation during the fall. The new candidates include: Mike Zieja, John Dolan and Bill Lynch all of Meredith & Grew.

Please see the attached PDF.

AMB Appoints Colliers Meredith & Grew Exclusive Leasing Agent for 1.8 Million-Square-Foot Industrial Portfolio
November 13, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — Colliers Meredith & Grew, one of the top full-service commercial real estate firms in New England, has been appointed the exclusive leasing agent for AMB Property Corporation's Southeastern Massachusetts industrial building portfolio. The portfolio consists of 1,855,333 square feet of industrial space located in fourteen buildings in Braintree, Stoughton, and Brockton. There is presently space available within the portfolio that can accommodate users from 12,000 to 300,000 square feet.

“We are extremely pleased to represent this quality portfolio,” said Robert Cronin, Senior Vice President and head of Colliers Meredith & Grew’s Industrial Leasing Team.

In addition to Cronin, the Colliers Meredith & Grew team assigned to the project includes Assistant Vice President Caleb Hudak, Assistant Vice President David Goodhue and Associate Christopher Decembrele. The AMB Property Corporation management team includes Senior Vice President Steven Kimball and Director of Property Management Skip Coppola.

Boston Marriott Copley Place: Renovated for Today’s Sophisticated Traveller
October 27, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — A $22 million, year-long series of renovations at the Boston Marriott Copley Place is nearly complete, it was announced today. Hotel enhancements include: a completely renovated first and second floor, with new front desk area and meeting rooms, a redesigned Champions restaurant and bar, the new Connexion lounge, an expanded Starbucks coffee bar, a relocated business center and upgraded gift shop; a renovated health club and pool; and a full renovation of all 47 guest suites.

“Working closely with our architecture and design partners, we devoted a lot of time at the beginning of this renovation process to observing and considering our guests’ patterns of use,” said Boston Marriott Copley Place General Manager David Giblin. “The resulting renovation really accommodates guests’ needs – and those needs have changed significantly over the past several years. The new hotel flow is so sensible, and the design is stunning. We’re thrilled.”

On the hotel’s first floor, the front desk area has been relocated, and is now just inside the hotel doors, on Huntington Avenue. This highly visible placement, along with a curvilinear design, invites guests to glide easily through the check-in process. The adjacent, elliptical seating area features contemporary furnishings in shades of terracotta, sand and celadon, and provides a welcome place for guests to meet colleagues, check messages, or read the paper. Three completely new, mid-sized meeting rooms are also included in the first floor design, and will be completed by January 2010.

The hotel’s second level, at the bustling intersection of the Copley Place Mall and the Shops at the Prudential Center, has also been completely reinvented. The centerpiece here is the new Champions, a sleek, modern restaurant that features one of the largest HD projection screens in New England (12 x 24 feet), over 40 flat panel televisions, and a technologically-advanced sound system. The restaurant’s open, circular design is reminiscent of the European piazza – the beloved outdoor gathering place where people eat, drink and play games, while listening to favorite sporting events on the radio. Together with an all-American grill menu, 36 beers on tap, and hand-crafted cocktails, Champions is quickly becoming one of Boston’s newest dining and entertainment destinations. The second floor also now features a greatly expanded and fully redesigned Starbucks coffee bar, a new Connexion Lounge, a relocated business center, and a refreshed and redesigned Atrium Shop.

Additional hotel renovations include the health club area, which offers the latest cardiovascular and weight training equipment, as well as pool, hot tub, massage treatment rooms, and breathtaking city views. All of the hotel’s 47 guest suites have also been beautifully redesigned, with stylish new furnishings and appointments throughout.

“This transformative investment represents a strong vote of confidence in the city of Boston, and the project benefited from an outstanding design and construction team,” said Yanni Tsipis, Senior Vice President with Colliers Meredith & Grew, the Project Manager.

The Boston Marriott Copley Place is owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Colliers Meredith & Grew is the Project Manager for these extensive hotel renovations; Gensler, a national design firm, is the Project Architect; and Structuretone is the General Contractor. The full project will be completed by first quarter 2010.

Source: Boston Marriott Copley Place

Gunderson Dettmer Leases 31,140 Square Feet at 850 Winter Street in Waltham, Massachusetts
October 7, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP, a leading law firm for entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and venture capitalists, has executed a new 31,140-square-foot lease to relocate its New England headquarters from 610 Lincoln Street to 850 Winter Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. The move will occur in January 2010.

Colliers Meredith & Grew’s James Elcock and Elias Demakes represented Gunderson Dettmer in the transaction. Andrew Majewski of CB Richard Ellis New England represented the landlord, Davis Marcus Partners. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

“It is an ideal move for Gunderson Dettmer,” said Elcock. “The firm will relocate to the newest building in the marketplace with on-site amenities such as food service, fitness, underground parking and immediate adjacency to Health Point gym while simultaneously enjoying the benefits of a campus setting.”

Built in 2008, 850 Winter Street is a LEED-certified, three-story, 180,000-square-foot Class A office and research building located in the prestigious Reservoir Woods office park. Earlier this year, Alkermes, Inc. announced plans to relocate its 115,000-square-foot corporate headquarters to 850 Winter Street from 88 Sidney Street in Cambridge in early 2010. Alkermes, Inc. was represented by Colliers Meredith & Grew’s Joseph Flaherty in the transaction.

The Bulfinch Group Leases 3,990 SF at 300 Ledgewood Place in Rockland, Massachusetts
September 29, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — The Bulfinch Group, a general agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY, has executed a new 3,990-square-foot lease at 300 Ledgewood Place in Rockland, Massachusetts. The property is now 100% leased.

The Colliers Meredith & Grew team of Executive Vice President James Elcock and Assistant Vice President David Goodhue represented the landlord, F.P. Giglio Enterprises, in the transaction. Senior Vice President Bradley McGill and Associate Michael Olson of Jones Lang LaSalle represented The Bulfinch Group. Specifics of the lease transaction were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to welcome The Bulfinch Group to Ledgewood Place,” said Frank Giglio, President of F.P. Giglio Enterprises. “The Bulfinch Group is a high quality tenant with a great reputation, and is indicative of the caliber of tenant that we have been able to attract to the property since its completion in late 2007.”

“We are excited to have 300 Ledgewood Place be home to our new South Shore office,” said Seth Medalie, CLU®, ChFC® President of The Bulfinch Group. “We take pride in locating our business in quality office buildings that provide a productive business environment for our professionals and clients. In addition, Frank Giglio's attention to detail and passion for the property are a very good formula for a long standing relationship.” The Bulfinch Group also occupies offices at 140 Kendrick Street in Needham, Massachusetts.

Built in 2007, 300 Ledgewood Place is a three-story, 39,000-square-foot Class A office building located in the Ledgewood Office Park in Rockland, Massachusetts. The park is conveniently situated minutes south of the Route 3 and Route 228 interchange at Exit 14 and is within minutes of Hingham, Norwell and Weymouth. Nearby amenities include hotels, restaurants and numerous retail amenities.

Caleb W. Hudak Joins Colliers Meredith & Grew
as an Assistant Vice President in Suburban Brokerage Group
September 24, 2009

Boston, Massachusetts — Caleb W. Hudak has joined Colliers Meredith & Grew as an Assistant Vice President in the Suburban Brokerage Group, focusing on brokerage activities in the Route 128 and 495 south markets. He will work closely with Executive Vice President James Elcock and Assistant Vice President David Goodhue. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Hudak spent five years at Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC.

“Caleb brings a great real estate background and experience to Colliers Meredith & Grew,” said Elcock. “He is a great fit, and we are very pleased to have someone with his reputation and real estate aptitude on our team.”

Mr. Hudak earned a B.A. degree in Sociology from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. He is a resident of Boston, Massachusetts.