Rendering of proposed Ink Block Project on the Former Boston Herald site

The Boston Herald’s newly vacated South End Headquarters now shuttered is slated to be transformed into the “Ink Block,” a six acre complex of apartments, stores and restaurants.

The property’s owner yesterday outlined a plan to replace the Herald’s squat brick building with four new structures containing 475 apartments a grocery store, and a mix of smaller shops and restaurants.

The proposal calls for buildings from five to nine stories, with each designed to have its own modern flair, featuring facades clad in glass, brick & metal.

This is the first piece of development in an emerging part of the South End. Just down the road along the Harrison Ave and Washington street corridors several buildings such as Wilkes Passage, The Dover Lofts, 700 Harrison and many others have had tremendous popularity in this funkier part of town.  The addition of the “Ink Block” will only bring together the South End with the mainly industrial section seperating itself from the Theatre District and Chinatown. The plan wold also move 400 parking spaces to the interior of the site where they would be hidden by the buildings

The Ink Block Project would be one of the largest residential developments in the city and would be built on one of its few large tracts of buildable land. Only the South Boston Waterfront boasts bigger commercial construction opportunities, with several mixed-use projects being planned.Currently the neighborhood is home to many area artists and current neighborhood activities such as the Sowa Winter Market create a fun & Vibrant vibe to a once more isolated part of town.

A city-commissioned task force recently published guidelines to spur redevelopment of the industrial properties along Harrison Avenue and Albany street in the South End. The guidelines call for taller buildings along Interstate 93 and around the former Herald site in hopes of creating dense, vibrant city blocks.

The architects have designed the complex to be like an authentic city block by planning buildings with different heights and a mix of materials, textures and colors.

The signature Building

would be a nine story glass apartment building at the corner of Herald street & Harrison Avenue. A fife story building on Harrison wold house the grocery store, more apartments, and a roof deck with a pool.
Two other buildings, at Harrison & Traveler street, wold have apartments above smaller shops and restaurants at street level.

For more information on the Ink Block or more great Sound End Lofts & Condos

contact Yoni Haiminis at (617)304-1400 or Yoni@lofts.com

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

Former Boston Herald site to be developed and renamed “The Ink Block”

Rendering of a a proposed development at 411 D Street

South Boston developers filed recently with the Boston Redevelopment Authority for a 200,000 square-foot project on D Street in the Seaport District across from the Convention & Exhibition center.

The development at 411 D Street would raze the current commercial structures on the property and replace them with two residential structures with retail/commercial space on the ground floor.  This would be a great addition to the fast growing seaport District neighborhood as residents of neighboring 437 D Street Lofts have continued to see their property values increase with expansion to the area.

Developers purchased the 63,000 square-foot property for $7.3 Million last fall and plan to house 197 rental units in the two structures along wth 26 “innovation units”.  The makeup of the units would consist of Studios, one-bedrooms, two bedrooms, a few three bedroom units and 129 spaces for on-site parking.

The first Building would be six stories with a height of close to 70 feet and will also include a roof-top terrace.  The second building which will reach five stories and be nearly 60 feet tall, will also include residential units along with a 2nd floor garden terrace and a rooftop terrace. The 2nd building will also differ in shape, reducing floors on the southern side to allow for more light on the 2nd floor garden terrace.

Developers estimate that the project will cost close to $60 Million

for more information on development and Seaport District Condos for sale and rent please contact Yoni Haiminis at (617)304-1400 or yoni@lofts.com

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

More residential Housing proposed for Seaport District

The DNA Lofts development located at 944 Dorchester Ave in Boston, MA is going to be auctioning off the remaining condominiums.  The auction is set to take place on the evening of Thursday October 6th, will be for 25 luxurious loft-style condominiums.  DNA Lofts is a newly constructed complex located in North Dorchester , just minutes from Boston Medical Center, Umass Boston The South End and the Red-Line.  Minimum bids start at $115,000 up to 60 percent below asking prices and dramatically lower than the current average listing price in Greater Boston

The DNA Lofts development was completed in 2008 and was a unique conversion from an old printing press into 59 residential Lofts.  All 25 Loft-residences available at auction are ready for immediate occupancy and are a mixture of developments 30 different layouts which offer endless design possibilities and can be tailored to fit every homeowners lifestyle.  Homes range in size from 655 square feet to 1648 square feet with minimum bids ranging from $115,000 to $275,000.  Minimum bids are up to 60% below last asking prices that ranged from $212,875 to $535,600.  All winning bidders receive 1 outdoor deeded parking space and have the option to purchase garage parking instead.

The units themselves are gorgeous with upgraded contemporary finishes that blend perfectly with original brick & beam that features to give it that perfect old meets new blend.

The units feature:

• Bamboo or polished concrete flooring
• Soaring ceiling height of up to 18 feet
• Top of the line  kitchens with stone counter-tops and stainless steel appliances
• Many of the units have private balconies with great courtyard & city views

The DNA Lofts location is fantastic because of its close proximity to the Red Line (JFK/Umass station), South End, Boston Medical Center, South Boston and provide an easy commute into Downtown Boston & Cambridge.  The neighborhood has some great restaurants such as the Banshee, Tom English’s Bar, Casa Real, D Bar, & the Ashmont Grill.

For more info on the DNA Lofts or any other Loft development in the city please contact Yoni Haiminis at (617) 304-1400 or Yoni@lofts.com

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

DNA Lofts to be Auctioned off!!

The 1922 South Boston factory/headquarters of the Joseph Burnett Company, a manufacturer of vanilla and other flavorings, food colorings, puddings and cake mixes for more than a century, has acquired a new flavor and color as The Lofts at 437 D St., a 42-unit loft condominium.

Now for sale here at $869,000 is a 1-bed, 2-bath penthouse unit with 54 feet of windows, exciting city views, radiant sun, and high, wide living spaces that can be arranged according to your personal taste.

Configure creatively

Home arrangement is a piece of cake in this 1,719-square-foot unit because of how the old concrete supporting columns create vast hardwood floor areas by eliminating the need for walls. This means the sky’s the limit on where and how to configure the dining room and raised living room. The exposed concrete 12-foot ceilings and columns and the industrial detailing bring in the factory aesthetic of an artist’s loft to stimulate your creativity.

Cool custom kitchen

By the dining area is a kitchen with contemporary European cabinetry, granite counters and stainless steel appliances, mixing industrial with high-end finishes.

Diamond in the rough

The family room roughs it with the exposed concrete but refines it with the crimson wall, whetting a spectrum of taste buds.

Mammoth master suite

The sweeping factory floor allows the unit an oversized master suite that interconnects the bedroom with the bath, with a soaking tub as the bridge. Finely honed granite finishes like those in the kitchen awash you in luxury.

The unit’s penthouse level has another plus: 642 square feet of roof rights directly above. This allows the construction of a deck the size of a starter condo for enormous entertaining by the backdrop of stunning city and sea views.

The unit’s current owner also has stamped plans for a potential addition of living space up here to make your penthouse into a duplex.

An elevator-accessed garage parking space comes with the unit. The pet-friendly building has a secured entry.

Seaport scene

Beyond the scenery of the Seaport District is a simmering scene of sights, sounds and smells: the Institute of Contemporary Art, exhibitions at Seaport World Trade Center and the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, summertime concerts at the Bank of America Pavilion, and more restaurants than you can name: the No Name Restaurant, Anthony’s Pier 4, The Barking Crab and LTK Bar & Kitchen, to name a few.

The Lofts at 437 D St. are also within walking distance of Silver Line bus service to Logan Airport and South Station.

For more information on this and other units at The Lofts at 437 D St., or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Ashley Rose

Cell: 617-899-7669
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
ashley.rose@lofts.com

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

Spacious sky-view Seaport loft

The high beamed ceilings, vast warehouse floors, oversized windows and sturdy brick walls of the North End’s old Castignetti Bros. men’s clothier at 26 Stillman St. seemed well suited for the 28 luxury loft condos the 1899 building became in 2001. Now for sale here at $995,000 is a 1,689-square-foot, 2-bed, 2-bath unit well tailored to fit your lifestyle and taste.

Lofty living

The hardwood-floored living room exposes original beams and brickwork, lets in a floor-to-ceiling window-wall of sunshine and city views, and is wide open to your preference in home arrangement.

The dining room can dangle the chandelier of your choice from the old ceiling beams. That, coupled with the blue wall treatment and the hardwood floor, show how effectively a contemporary space can be carved out of an old building.

Chic cuisine

The kitchen is tastefully appointed with contemporary custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and honed Atlantic Black Granite counters.

Masterful bedroom

The carpeted master bedroom takes advantage of the ceiling height for a spacious sleeping experience with ample headroom, elbow-room and legroom.

The master bath features a honed Atlantic Black Granite vanity with a stainless steel sink that is as hygienic as it is high-end.

Romantic roof

The common roofdeck boasts 360-degree views of the city in total, from the Financial District’s skyscrapers to the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge to Beacon Hill to the Blue Hills. It is an awesome spot to watch the Fourth of July fireworks without having to brave the crowds.

Castignetti’s corner

Here is an earlier view of 26 Stillman St. when it housed Castignetti Bros. Founded by Italian immigrant Joseph Anthony Castignetti, this upscale men’s clothier was the place to go for tuxedos for the senior prom, one’s wedding, or a night out on the town.

The Central Artery at right has since given way to the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a picturesque promenade stretching from the North End to Chinatown and reconnecting the North End with Boston’s Financial District, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and much more.

The Italian character of Mr. Castignetti’s old world remains in the North End, in the form of more than 30 Italian restaurants, cafes, pastry shops and pizza parlors to choose from, not to mention the patron saint festivals that draw crowds year-round. The Freedom Trail passes through here, passing such historic sites as the Paul Revere House, Old North Church and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground.

For more information

For more information on this and other units at 26 Stillman St., or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Yoni Haiminis

Cell: 617-304-1400
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
yoni@lofts.com

http://www.lofts.com/agents/17

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

Luxury loft condo in historic North End textile building

Built in 2007, The Lofts at 36A are the latest addition to South Boston’s growing residential loft district — a high-end community of high ceilings, vast floors, walls of windows, breathtaking city and Seaport panoramas, fine finishes and sustainable designs and materials.

Now for sale for $629,000 at The Lofts at 36A is a 1,370-square-foot, 2-bed, 2-bath unit with all of the above features and finishes plus Grohe and Kohler plumbing fixtures, Cola stained concrete floors, a garage parking space and a whole lot more, for a luxury loft lifestyle second to none.

Light-filled living and dining

The sun and the Seaport pour in through the floor-to-ceiling window walls, brightening your days and sparkling your nights. The living-dining space wraps around the kitchen in an L configuration, unifying the eating and entertaining areas for a conversational continuity from cocktails to dinner to cleanup at your dinner parties.

Haute cuisine

“Haute,” in French, means “high,” which describes the quality of the kitchen’s finishes, fixtures, appliances and appointments. They include Fisher & Paykel stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and custom cabinetry with stainless steel hardware.

Masterful suite

The master bedroom is high and wide enough for a king-size four-poster bed, a first-class home office workstation and much more. The master bath features a spa shower with multiple heads for a relaxing, refreshing whole-body wash. The vanity has a Carrara marble counter.

The unit‘s energy-efficient amenities include a high- velocity heating and cooling system and low-E argon windows for maximum climate control.

Regal roofdeck

The common roofdeck with grill offers unprecedented views of Boston’s Financial and Seaport districts and glistening harbor waters. Residents can enjoy a summer cookout up here amid a gorgeous sunset or July 4th’s fabulous fireworks.

The Lofts at 36A are a short walk away from the Red Line’s Broadway station, which is one stop away from South Station’s Amtrak, Commuter Rail and Silver Line service. The Seaport District’s exciting urban offerings include the Institute of Contemporary Art, exhibitions at Seaport World Trade Center and the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, summertime concerts at the Bank of America Pavilion, and world-famous seafood restaurants such as the No Name Restaurant, Anthony’s Pier 4, The Barking Crab and LTK Bar & Kitchen.

For more information on this or other units at The Lofts at 36A, or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Ashley Rose

Cell: 617-899-7669
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
ashley.rose@lofts.com

http://www.lofts.com/agents/16

Listing & Photos Courtesy of Nicholas Warren of Warren Residential Group

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

Luxury loft at 36A, South Boston

Designed factory-style with the tall sash windows, vast wood floors, iron ceiling trusses and fire escapes, and exterior clapboard treatment of many old New England mills, 4 Tannery Brook Row at Davis Square Lofts in Somerville now has a bright, sunny studio condo for sale at $650,000.

Flexible floor plan

In this new construction portion of the adaptive reuse of the 1894 M.W. Carr Company metal goods factory complex as an environmentally sustainable residential loft community, the factory aesthetic of oversized windows and expansive floor areas comes in handy for this 1,350-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 1-bath unit for some of the most flexible space arrangement you’ll ever see.

Space into space

The living, dining, kitchen and bedroom spaces all flow together in one open floor plan across a rough sawn ash floor in a crosscurrent of light and space, enabling you to design your living space according to your wishes, even in the oversized bath and laundry. The stainless steel kitchen is both state-of-the-art and reflective of the site’s metal manufacturing history. The finished walls have ample space for artwork, in keeping with the unit’s artist loft spirit.

Quiet but convenient location

4 Tannery Brook Row is situated in the quiet environment of a small-town neighborhood along the Minuteman Bikeway. The neighborhood is as convenient as it is quiet, being a short walk to Bus 77 on Massachusetts Avenue at one end and the Davis Square MBTA station at the other. A ZipCar station is on site as well.

Called one of the fifteen “hippest places to live” in the United States by the Utne Reader, Davis Square is the place to be for movies and live performances at the Somerville Theatre, hot coffeehouses such as Diesel Cafe, cool restaurants such as Mike’s Restaurant and Rosebud Diner, grocery and boutique shopping, live street performers, and bus service to all corners of Cambridge, Somerville, Medford and Tufts Unversity.

Sustainable design

Davis Square Lofts incorporates these environmentally sustainable building elements:

• Heavy thermal mass construction, for retention and even distribution of warmth in the winter and temperature moderation in the summer.
• Passive cooling, where cross ventilation through custom steel windows displace warm air with cool air as an economic alternative to air-conditioning.
• Radiant concrete floors, supplemented by direct solar gain, providing you with substantial savings on your heating bill.
• Rainwater recycling, where rain runoff from the gutters and downspouts is captured and recirculated through the buildings for water closets and site irrigation.

For more information

For more information on this and other units at Davis Square Lofts, or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Ashley Rose

Cell: 617-899-7669
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
ashley.rose@lofts.com

http://www.lofts.com/agents/16

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

New studio loft condo at Davis Square Lofts

Centrally located at the crossroads of Downtown Crossing, Chinatown and the Financial District, Lafayette Lofts puts you in the heart of the Hub and the heat of its high life. For $989,000, its 1,494-square-foot, 2-bed, 3-bath penthouse unit gives you all you need for entertaining and living in style: high ceilings, huge walls of windows framing city views with southern exposure, gleaming hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, a gourmet kitchen, a master suite with unprecedented sunlight and views, spa-like baths, a private terrace, and garage parking.

Live loftily

The living room lets in light through its floor-to-ceiling windows, which contain a slider to the private terrace to let you and your housewarming guests sip cocktails amid stunning city views. In colder months they can warm up to the gas fireplace.

The living room extends into an open dining room, easing your guests’ transition from cocktails to cuisine. Off the living area is a loft stair to the roofdeck, where 360-degree panoramas stretching from Beacon Hill to the Back Bay to the Blue Hills are yours for the asking.

Chic cuisine

The dining room flows nicely into the gourmet kitchen, where stainless steel appliances and hardware (including bar stools), custom walnut cabinetry and white counters create a grand prix sous chef ambiance for class cuisine.

Let there be light

You’ll be amazed at the way the carpeted master bedroom pours in the morning light through its all-glass wall, waking you up to the vista of the sky and the vibrancy of the city.

There is room to spare for a king-size bed, a bookcase, a highboy, a workstation, and artwork galore.

The spa-like spic-and-span space of the master bath continues your romantic reveille with its walnut vanity with farmer’s sink, its tub/shower with glass slider, and its tiled floor.

Location, location, location

That’s right — three locations in one: Downtown Crossing, Chinatown, and the Financial District. Shopping along Washington Street is aplenty at Macy’s, H&M, Borders Bookstore and more. Chinatown’s Empire Garden and China Pearl are just two of the exciting Chinese restaurants you can indulge in. Kitty O’Shea’s Irish Pub & Bistro is one of several establishments you can frequent in the Financial District. Right down the street is Chinatown Park, the beginning of a pleasant promenade along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a mile-plus park that takes you along the Waterfront all the way to the North End.

For more information

For more information on this and other units at Lafayette Lofts, or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Yoni Haiminis

Cell: 617-304-1400
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
yoni@lofts.com

http://www.lofts.com/agents/17

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

Loft condo puts you in the heart of the Hub

The original Boston College High School at 21 Fr. Francis Gilday St. in the South End has been expertly renovated into a 60-unit luxury condominium and rechristened The Penmark. The brick facade, high ceilings and oversized windows of the 1858 building have been preserved and incorporated into all of the units, giving them a loft feel that’s in perfect sync with today’s lifestyle.

Lofty living

One of The Penmark’s loftiest units is now for sale at $3.25 million. This 2,429-square-foot, 2-bed, 4-bath unit takes advantage of the old building’s floor-to-ceiling segmental-arched windows, high ceilings and large floor areas to bring optimum light, city views and airy ambiance into the living and dining rooms.

The sustainable bamboo flooring and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint contribute to the unit’s healthful atmosphere.

Gourmet granite kitchen

The open kitchen continues the bamboo flooring and is fully equipped with upscale designer appointments:

• stainless steel Bosch and Jenn-Air appliances;

• gas cooking;

• black granite counters;

• a central island counter with stainless steel sink and pendant track lighting;

• custom cherry cabinetry with stainless steel hardware.

Bedroom majesty

The hotel-quality master bedroom is fully carpeted and has ample room for a king-size bed, a sitting area and much more. The en suite bath is lavishly tiled in marble.

Common amenities

The Penmark‘s luxurious lobby displays artwork from the South End’s artistic community. Each unit has deeded basement storage and underground garage parking (two spaces for this unit). Other common amenities include an in-house fitness center and a 24-hour concierge, doorman and security system.

Penmark’s perimeters

A few blocks away are many of the South End’s choicest restaurants and cafés, including Joanne Cheng’s Flour Café and Bakery, Union Bar and Grille, and Caffé Umbra. The Penmark is also beside the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, and is within walking distance of the MBTA Silver Line to downtown Boston and Dudley Square. Also close by are local parks and shops, weekend festivals, art galleries, and performance venues, including the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts.

For more information on this and other units at The Penmark at 21 Fr. Francis Gilday St., or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Ashley Rose

Cell: 617-899-7669
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
ashley.rose@lofts.com

http://www.lofts.com/agents/16

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

The Penmark: new loft living in old school shell

Union Wharf, an old granite shoe-imports warehouse built in 1847 by shipping merchant John L. Gardner and later operated as a Boston-to- Maine steamship terminal, was renovated and expanded into 89 residential and commercial condominiums in 1977. Now you can reap the full benefit of its Boston Waterfront history, culture and location in a 2,429-square-foot penthouse unit for sale at $3.25 million.

Wide space, wide views

Feast your eyes on the sweeping panorama encompassing the calm waters and the busy city when you step into the spacious living-dining room. Floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple skylights bring in the sun, sea, sky and city. High beamed ceilings and a fireplace add depth and warmth to the experience.

Open kitchen

The kitchen is open to the living-dining space, brightened by the skylights, and appointed with light granite counters and custom white cabinetry, for a brighter, airier cooking experience than the average corridor kitchen. State-of-the-art appliances include a smooth-top electric cooktop in the island counter bar and a set of convection/microwave wall ovens.

Private panorama

In addition to two baths and a wood-burning stove, the master suite boasts a private deck with the most comprehensive sea-and-city view you’ll ever experience, stretching from Boston Harbor’s blue waters to the soaring skyscrapers of the Financial District to the narrow streets of the North End. The guest suite also has a private deck and marble bath. Deeded parking, guest parking and marina slips are available for the unit.

Lofty location

Those views make it clear what’s near you. Steps away from Union Wharf are shopping and dining at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the New England Aquarium, the North End‘s exotic Italian restaurants and cafés, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Financial District, water taxi service to Logan Airport and the Harbor Islands, and much more.

For more information on this or other units at Union Wharf at 343 Commercial St., or to arrange a private showing, contact:

Yoni Haiminis

Cell: 617-304-1400
Phone: 617-395-1655
Fax: 617-507-7721
yoni@lofts.com

http://www.lofts.com/agents/17

Post from: The Boston Loft Blog

‘Sale’ away in Boston Waterfront penthouse unit