Banker & Tradesman
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Massachusetts' oldest source for real estate and banking news (founded 1872). Sign up for newsletters and subscribe at bankerandtradesman.com
We cover commercial and residential real estate, banking and finance and housing policy throughout Massachusetts
We cover commercial and residential real estate, banking and finance and housing policy throughout Massachusetts
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Howdy, folks!
We're here to make you smart about all things housing, real estate development and finance in Massachusetts. Find our work and sign up for newsletters at bankerandtradesman.com.
Here are some of our bigger stories from 2024 so far:
We're here to make you smart about all things housing, real estate development and finance in Massachusetts. Find our work and sign up for newsletters at bankerandtradesman.com.
Here are some of our bigger stories from 2024 so far:
Reposted by Banker & Tradesman
SCOOP: @mbta.com In Negotiations to Acquire Former Beer Warehouse In Medford for A New Electric Bus Garage - mass.streetsblog.org/2025/08/13/m...
MBTA In Negotiations to Acquire Former Beer Warehouse In Medford for A New Electric Bus Garage - Streetsblog Massachusetts
Background materials provided to the MBTA board of directors suggest that the garage would replace the agency's existing Fellsway and Lynn bus garages.
mass.streetsblog.org
August 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
SCOOP: @mbta.com In Negotiations to Acquire Former Beer Warehouse In Medford for A New Electric Bus Garage - mass.streetsblog.org/2025/08/13/m...
President Donald Trump's tariffs could have one winner in Boston: landlords of existing apartment buildings.
Asking rents were already set to increase thanks to Greater Boston’s highly restricted supply of apartments.
Asking rents were already set to increase thanks to Greater Boston’s highly restricted supply of apartments.
April 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
President Donald Trump's tariffs could have one winner in Boston: landlords of existing apartment buildings.
Asking rents were already set to increase thanks to Greater Boston’s highly restricted supply of apartments.
Asking rents were already set to increase thanks to Greater Boston’s highly restricted supply of apartments.
This is what could rise on the site of Gillette's soon-to-be-former factory site in South Boston
April 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This is what could rise on the site of Gillette's soon-to-be-former factory site in South Boston
Is Boston walking back its tough affordability rules?
Developers are getting an increasingly sympathetic hearing from Boston officials in an effort to break the logjam of housing projects still sitting on the drawing boards.
Developers are getting an increasingly sympathetic hearing from Boston officials in an effort to break the logjam of housing projects still sitting on the drawing boards.
April 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Is Boston walking back its tough affordability rules?
Developers are getting an increasingly sympathetic hearing from Boston officials in an effort to break the logjam of housing projects still sitting on the drawing boards.
Developers are getting an increasingly sympathetic hearing from Boston officials in an effort to break the logjam of housing projects still sitting on the drawing boards.
Substantially vacant office towers like Boston's One Lincoln face a daunting future: Sitting around gathering dust for years until the office sector grows again.
What if it didn't have to be that way -- and they could provide a housing fix, too?
What if it didn't have to be that way -- and they could provide a housing fix, too?
April 2, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Substantially vacant office towers like Boston's One Lincoln face a daunting future: Sitting around gathering dust for years until the office sector grows again.
What if it didn't have to be that way -- and they could provide a housing fix, too?
What if it didn't have to be that way -- and they could provide a housing fix, too?
Reposted by Banker & Tradesman
And I've got a long-read today on the intersection between MA coastal communities, seasonal housing, and the dual climate-housing crises.
‘Water doesn't know property lines’: Where Massachusetts’ climate and housing crises meet
“The state rules have to catch up with the reality of climate change," said Matthew Fee, a Nantucket select board member. "A town road can’t be abandoned if someone’s on it, but what happens when the ...
commonwealthbeacon.org
April 1, 2025 at 3:33 PM
And I've got a long-read today on the intersection between MA coastal communities, seasonal housing, and the dual climate-housing crises.
Reposted by Banker & Tradesman
🚨 O’BRIEN OUT: Developer Tom O’Brien has reversed course and says he is NOT running for mayor of Boston
2025 WATCH: As developer Tom O'Brien readies campaign, Mayor Wu campaigned in East Boston and touted endorsements from neighborhood's local elected officials
March 31, 2025 at 7:02 PM
🚨 O’BRIEN OUT: Developer Tom O’Brien has reversed course and says he is NOT running for mayor of Boston
Watertown leaders hit pause last week on new building emissions regulations after objections from the business community and condominium associations about the potential costs and complications.
Watertown Hits Pause on BERDO Ordinance
Watertown leaders hit pause on new building emissions regulations after objections from the business community and condominium associations about the potential costs and complications.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 31, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Watertown leaders hit pause last week on new building emissions regulations after objections from the business community and condominium associations about the potential costs and complications.
Reposted by Banker & Tradesman
These shifts in consumer sentiment are a housing market variable we haven’t had in 15 years.
It may no longer be just about rates.
It may no longer be just about rates.
From the UMich survey, "expect a higher income over the next year" is falling off a cliff -- hard to see inflation/interest rates remaining elevated if that plays out:
March 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
These shifts in consumer sentiment are a housing market variable we haven’t had in 15 years.
It may no longer be just about rates.
It may no longer be just about rates.
🚨Boston's One Lincoln office tower just sold for only $400 million🚨
"Only," because previous owner Fortis Property Group bought the tower in 2006 for a cool $889 million.
"Only," because previous owner Fortis Property Group bought the tower in 2006 for a cool $889 million.
Lender Buys One Lincoln for $400M
The buyer helped arrange a billion-dollar financing package for the tower in 2022. The sale shows how far Boston office values have fallen.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
🚨Boston's One Lincoln office tower just sold for only $400 million🚨
"Only," because previous owner Fortis Property Group bought the tower in 2006 for a cool $889 million.
"Only," because previous owner Fortis Property Group bought the tower in 2006 for a cool $889 million.
Could we, in fact, get lower mortgage rates this year? That would help more developers build housing and help more homebuyers afford homes.
Local Bankers Optimistic After Fed Moves Wednesday
While the Federal Reserve held fast despite jitters that have gripped the national economy in recent weeks, local bankers are remaining optimistic about the potential for lower interest rates this yea...
bankerandtradesman.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Could we, in fact, get lower mortgage rates this year? That would help more developers build housing and help more homebuyers afford homes.
Lenders postponed an auction of Boston’s One Lincoln office tower at the last minute, delaying a potential change of ownership for the 1.1 million-square-foot skyscraper.
One Lincoln Gets 24-Hour Reprieve
Lenders postponed an auction of Boston’s One Lincoln office tower at the last minute, delaying a potential change of ownership for the 1.1 million-square-foot skyscraper.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Lenders postponed an auction of Boston’s One Lincoln office tower at the last minute, delaying a potential change of ownership for the 1.1 million-square-foot skyscraper.
Lexington just went from the poster child for the MBTA Communities law's potential to making deep cuts to its multifamily zoning in the face of a development boom.
March 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Lexington just went from the poster child for the MBTA Communities law's potential to making deep cuts to its multifamily zoning in the face of a development boom.
Office-to-dorm conversions could become more common in downtown Boston, Mayor @wutrain.bsky.social hopes, potentially taking pressure off residential neighborhoods elsewhere in Boston.
March 19, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Office-to-dorm conversions could become more common in downtown Boston, Mayor @wutrain.bsky.social hopes, potentially taking pressure off residential neighborhoods elsewhere in Boston.
The megadeveloper behind Assembly Row appears to be pivoting to housing as it picks which part of the project to build next.
Block-Sized Housing Development Proposed at Assembly Row
Assembly Row owner Federal Realty Investment Trust is ready to build another 318 housing units at the Somerville mixed-use development, replacing a temporary parking lot currently used by customers of...
bankerandtradesman.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The megadeveloper behind Assembly Row appears to be pivoting to housing as it picks which part of the project to build next.
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Center specializes in representing families who face discrimination from landlords due to the state's costly lead paint abatement law.
It could lose nearly half of its annual budget.
It could lose nearly half of its annual budget.
Fair Housing Agencies Sue DOGE Over Loss of Grants
An agency that represents Massachusetts tenants in housing discrimination cases is suing the Trump administration, arguing that it illegally canceled grant funding that it relies upon to represent ten...
bankerandtradesman.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Center specializes in representing families who face discrimination from landlords due to the state's costly lead paint abatement law.
It could lose nearly half of its annual budget.
It could lose nearly half of its annual budget.
While the experts we talked to don't expect “floodgates open,” it’s likely the market will see more towers come up for sale in the next year or two.
The big challenge: There aren't a lot of tenants looking for big spaces who can quickly stabilize a troubled office tower.
The big challenge: There aren't a lot of tenants looking for big spaces who can quickly stabilize a troubled office tower.
Second Downtown Tower's Sale Could Set Benchmark
It's not just One Lincoln: A second downtown Boston skyscraper could hit the market and offer another indication of how far high-end office property values have fallen since the pandemic.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 19, 2025 at 7:10 PM
While the experts we talked to don't expect “floodgates open,” it’s likely the market will see more towers come up for sale in the next year or two.
The big challenge: There aren't a lot of tenants looking for big spaces who can quickly stabilize a troubled office tower.
The big challenge: There aren't a lot of tenants looking for big spaces who can quickly stabilize a troubled office tower.
The stock market slide could be pushing the Massachusetts housing market in two separate directions.
March 19, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The stock market slide could be pushing the Massachusetts housing market in two separate directions.
What matters more to deciding how tall a 420-unit housing tower should be: Skyscrapers two blocks to the west or former tenements two blocks to the east?
March 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What matters more to deciding how tall a 420-unit housing tower should be: Skyscrapers two blocks to the west or former tenements two blocks to the east?
The Boston Society for Architecture’s annual design honors have been awarded, and the winners range from a Weston farmstand to a hefty, new steam plant in Allston.
PHOTOS: Boston Architects' Award-Winning Buildings
The Boston Society for Architecture's annual design honors have been awarded, and the winners range from a Weston farmstand to a hefty, new steam plant in Allston.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The Boston Society for Architecture’s annual design honors have been awarded, and the winners range from a Weston farmstand to a hefty, new steam plant in Allston.
Developers will receive an somewhat easier path to approval of multifamily housing in Boston's Bulfinch Triangle under new zoning rules.
Vote Expands Housing Potential Near North Station
Developers will receive an somewhat easier path to approval of multifamily housing in the historic blocks near North Station under new zoning rules.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Developers will receive an somewhat easier path to approval of multifamily housing in Boston's Bulfinch Triangle under new zoning rules.
Tariffs' potential impact on housing construction could go way beyond construction costs, the top Mass. housing official is warning.
“The equity that’s often needed to facilitate a deal doesn’t like uncertainty, and we are in the midst of lots of uncertainty,” Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said.
“The equity that’s often needed to facilitate a deal doesn’t like uncertainty, and we are in the midst of lots of uncertainty,” Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said.
Augustus Says Tariff Uncertainty May Scare Away Housing Investors
State government leaders in Massachusetts are trying to instigate a building boom to address a housing shortage marked by high rents and sale prices, but a top housing official is now warning that hea...
bankerandtradesman.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Tariffs' potential impact on housing construction could go way beyond construction costs, the top Mass. housing official is warning.
“The equity that’s often needed to facilitate a deal doesn’t like uncertainty, and we are in the midst of lots of uncertainty,” Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said.
“The equity that’s often needed to facilitate a deal doesn’t like uncertainty, and we are in the midst of lots of uncertainty,” Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said.
A joint venture of WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority completed financing to begin a massive, mixed-income redevelopment of Boston’s Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex.
WinnCompanies Set to Begin 3.3K-Unit South Boston Project
A joint venture of WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority completed financing to begin a decades-long redevelopment of Boston’s Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex.
bankerandtradesman.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A joint venture of WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority completed financing to begin a massive, mixed-income redevelopment of Boston’s Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex.
Despite officials' big talk about housing production, Boston stands in stark contrast with other markets, our columnist Scott Van Voorhis argues.
March 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Despite officials' big talk about housing production, Boston stands in stark contrast with other markets, our columnist Scott Van Voorhis argues.