Archive for the ‘Building Exposure’ Category

One Back Bay

Friday, April 16th, 2010


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The recently opened apartments at One Back Bay are amazing with the best building ameneties you can find in the city.  Located on the corner of Clarendon and Stuart Street, One Back Bay sits on prime real estate. Steps to Newbury Street’s boutiques and a short walk to Tremont Street’s renown restaurants its location can’t be beat.

Aside from the location, One Back Bay boasts some of the finest finishes, fixtures and appliances.  Top of the line fixtures went into these apartments including brands such Sub-Zero, Miele, and Wolf.  No detail was left out,  I was impressed by the woodwork and shelving in the closets providing ample storage.  The master bathrooms are appointed with his and her vanities, glass standing shower and tub.

The most alluring aspect of this building would have to be the light and views.  Being the tallest residential tower in Back Bay allows for some of the best views of Boston.  Residents can also enjoy the view from the roof-top terrace from Spring to Late Fall.

If you would like to schedule a tour of One Back Bay or hear about some of our other listings please call or email me anytime.

William Carr
Leasing Agent
williamc.@rikemanre.com
781-859-9805

Rikeman Real Estate Company

45 Newbury Street

Back Bay Boston

www.luxreblog.com

www.bostonerealty.com

Beacon Hill Single Family Home Auction March 3rd

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010


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The tough hi end boston luxury real estate market is turning to unconventional methods to sell some properties. Check out this Boston Globe article about the first luxury single family to hit the auction block on March 3 2010. Article courtesy of the “Boston Globe”

When developers Peter and Elizabeth Georgantas paid $2.25 million for a dilapidated 1860s Beacon Hill brownstone about four years ago, they saw the potential for a hefty profit. But in September 2008, just as the couple put the 5,700-square-foot building up for sale for $8.95 million, the luxury housing market froze like the Charles River in February. As the house sat vacant, the couple reduced the asking price to $7.95 million months later and then again, last year, to $7 million, with no serious offers. Hoping to motivate buyers, the Georgantas are now putting the townhouse up for auction with a minimum bid of nearly $5 million, a rare event in this historic and exclusive part of the city that will be closely watched by others in the real estate industry who are frustrated with the stalled high-end market. While there have been an increasing number of auctions of luxury condominiums in the Boston area, this is the first auction of a high-end single family in Beacon Hill in recent memory. The Georgantas purchased the Brimmer Street property and an adjacent building for $4.5 million with plans to return the 18 rental units back into two elegant single family homes. The March 3 auction will be done in tandem with a two-bedroom, 2,400-square-foot condominium on nearby Lime Street that was last listed for $1.8 million and will sell for a minimum bid of $1.2 million. Great Rock Auctions, a newly incorporated Boston-based auction firm that focuses on high-quality real estate, will hold the auction in the Brimmer Street home.

Jon Gollinger, chief executive of Accelerated Marketing Partners, the Boston firm that ran The Bryant Back Bay and Nouvelle at Natick auctions last year, said the Brimmer auction will likely be a “watershed event” for single family homes in downtown Boston.

If you are interested in luxury homes or condominiums at auction feel free to contact us at contact@rikemanre.com www.bostonerealty.com www.luxreblog.com 617-236-5005

The Clarendon, Back Bay’s Newest Green Luxury Tower

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009


Aerial View, The Clarendon, One Back Bay

Robert A.M. Stern became famous for his signature modern-traditionalist style.  Stern was a pioneer in the post-modern movement.  An architectural style and attitude which brought the warmth and charm of traditional architecture to modern construction technology.

Stern was the perfect choice to design Back Bay’s first luxury residential tower.  The Clarendon sits on a previously underdeveloped parking lot diagonally across from The Prudential Tower.  Stern uses the massing of the building and uses Back Bay’s traditional brick to stitch together the neighborhood.  The magnitude of this 32-story tower is mitigated by Stern’s careful attention to scale, proportion and material.  The massing of the building was also studied to help alleviate the wind tunnel effect from the neighboring Prudential.   The ground floor houses a popular bar and a post office which helps to extend the neighborhood and nightlife of Back Bay.

The Clarendon is also one of very few ‘green’ residential towers in the nation.  Deciding to go green can add significantly to the construction cost but the trade-off is a safer, better quality, longer lasting and more comfortable building.  Building a green building means not only using recycled materials and using energy efficient appliances but also following stricter health and air-quality standards.

The building has both condominiums and rentals units available at One Back Bay. They are appointed finest finishes and appliances and boast luxurious amenities.  There are many different floor plans to fit a variety of lifestyles.  The location and height of the building grant it some of the best views of Boston and provide ample natural light. A world famous architect, prime location and green construction insure The Clarendon will remain one of Boston’s most desired addresses for decades to come.

If you are interested in any unit  for sale or lease please contact William Carr or Herb Rikeman buyer’s agents Direct- 617-236-5005 Cell-781-859-9805 Toll Free 877-580-5005 williamc@rikemanre.com contact@rikemanre.com  www.bostonerealty.com  www.luxreblog.com

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended

Thursday, November 12th, 2009


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The Good news for first time home buyers is tax credit extended for sure. Congressman Maurice Hinchey helped secure legislation that will extend the $8,000 federal tax credit for first time home-buyers, and create a new $6,500 tax credit for people who have bought a home in the last five years. Hinchey says it was important to extend this legislation through April 30th of 2010, because it’s been a successful law so far.”It provides opportunities for people to buy homes who wouldn’t have the opportunity, because the $8,000 provides them with the incentive they need, and the additional financial help they need to actually buy that house,” said Rep. Maurice Hinchey, (D) 22nd District. Hinchey says he doesn’t know if there will be another extension, because it all depends on the program’s success.

 

We checked in with our lending specialist Jason Deeb at MSA Mortgage and here is what he sent us to help understand the process.  Jason Deeb says with the recent extension of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, after consulting with many MSA clients who purchased a home for the first time and had difficulty visualizing the process. Many of our clients have found our flow chart extremely helpful so I wanted to pass it along to you to forward to your clients. Please let me know if I can send it to you or if you have any questions. Contact Jason Deeb Senior Loan Officer Direct: 781.486.7143 Cell: 917.721.2111 Fax: 781.245.7373 Email: jdeeb@msamortgage.com

Back Bay Ames Webster Mansion For Sale

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009


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The Ames-Webster mansion on 306 Dartmouth St., one of the largest properties in the Back Bay with 26,000 square feet, 50 rooms, and 28 fireplaces, is for sale.  This is one of the few large mansions with so much original detail in the Back Bay. The building is dripping with ornate wood molding and classic brownstone detail. The property is owned by Reality Realty Trust, whose members include developer Neil St. John Raymond of the Raymond Property Co. and the founding members of firm CBT Architects. The mansion serves as the corportate headquarters for Raymond Property.  The Raymond company is planning to move its offices to downtown Boston. Price:  $18-25 million.

You are invited to Archstone Avenir’s Debut Party!

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009


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BOSTON - (Business Wire) Archstone announced today that it will celebrate the revitalization of the Bullfinch Triangle with a grand opening event in honor of its newest downtown Boston community – Archstone Avenir. The event, to be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, at the community, will feature a fine selection of beverages and delectable hors d’oeuvres during an evening filled with music and entertainment. While enjoying the European-inspired community’s elegant ambiance, attendees will have the opportunity to tour Archstone Avenir’s luxurious amenities, serene flats and duplex lofts. (R.S.V.P. by noon on August 12 at www.stuffboston.com/rsvp1.)

The first building to open as part of the revitalization efforts of Boston’s historic Bullfinch Triangle neighborhood, Archstone Avenir, located at 101 Canal Street, exemplifies the vision for the future of Boston’s West End.

“A vital neighborhood has emerged in the Bullfinch Triangle, and we’re proud to be a part of the revitalization efforts,” said Daniel Doern, Archstone’s Vice President of Development for the Northeast region. “Avenir means ‘future’ in French, and we’re inviting Boston residents to join us in celebrating the future of the Bullfinch Triangle.”

Although revitalization has just begun, the Bullfinch Triangle already offers a number of impressive attractions that are just steps from Archstone Avenir’s apartments. The most prominent attraction in the neighborhood is TD Garden, home to the Boston Celtics and Bruins.

Archstone Avenir has one of the best locations just steps from the North End and the financial district, which is a perfect complement to its fantastic condo-level finishes in a loft-style community,” said Matt Smith, Archstone’s Executive Vice President of Operations for the East Region. “We see this as an important extension of our unparalleled group of luxury apartment communities in the Boston metro area.”

Along with being within walking distance of the best of Boston sports, the community is situated on top of the Green/Orange Line and commuter rail at North Station, offering convenient access to public transportation.

While at home, residents will find that the Boston apartments, featuring loft-style units and Bosch appliances, combine thoughtfully crafted spaces, a wide range of floor plans and striking interior design. What’s more, Archstone Avenir is the first large-scale, professionally managed apartment community to offer smoke-free living in Boston. Smoking is prohibited in interior common areas, inside apartment units, on balconies and the roof deck.

Among the amenities at the Boston luxury apartments are a 24-hour Caliber Sports Club®, a rooftop sky deck, bike storage and an above ground indoor parking garage.

About Archstone

Archstone is a recognized leader in apartment investment and operations. The company’s portfolio is concentrated in many of the most desirable neighborhoods in and around Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Boston. Archstone strives to provide great apartments and great service to its customers—backed by service guarantees. As of Dec. 31, 2008, the company owned or had an ownership position in 428 communities located in the United States and Europe, representing 84,028 units, including units under construction. Utilizing this tremendous amount of expertise and institutional knowledge, Archstone now also offers comprehensive advisory services to owners and lenders who want to maximize the value of their assets through Archstone Real Estate Advisory Services (www.archstoneadvisoryservices.com).