This Week's Boston Deal Sheet: Cambridge Lots Sell To Affordable Housing Developer

A social services organization acquired two parcels near Porter Square to build more affordable housing in Cambridge.

Cambridge-based Just A Start acquired two parking lots near Porter Square in hopes of building affordable housing.
Cambridge-Based Just A Start Acquired Two Parking Lots Near Porter Square In Hopes Of Building Affordable Housing.

Cambridge-based Just A Start acquired two parking lots at 1826 and 1840 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge for $10.5M, according to public records. The sites are near the Porter Square MBTA station.

The acquisition was financed by the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust, and Lesley University was the seller. Just a Start, which manages more than 600 affordable apartments and supports 1,500 residents, hasn't finalized its plans but said it envisions affordable housing with ground-floor retail.

“This acquisition offers a rare opportunity to bring affordable housing to a prime location, strengthening Cambridge’s diverse and equitable community,” Just A Start Executive Director Carl Nagy-Koechlin said in a statement. “With the input and collaboration of neighbors, we look forward to creating a development that reflects shared values and addresses urgent housing needs.”

The sites total 25K SF of land, according to a Cushman & Wakefield flyer marketing them as development sites. They are within 10 minutes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital and Kendall Square.

SALES

Chestnut Realty Management acquired the 32K SF Woburn Plaza shopping center at 299 Mishawum Road from Linear Retail Properties. The plaza sits next to Woburn Village, which includes a 350-unit apartment community, and a retail center anchored by Market Basket. CBRE's Nat Heald, Kyle Juszczyszyn, Connor Scott and Jordana Roet led the team involved in the sale.

LEASES

WS Development welcomed three new retailers to its Mansfield Crossing shopping plaza. The Fresh Market, Sephora and Sweetgreen signed leases at the 383K SF shopping plaza. Sweetgreen opened in November, The Fresh Market plans to open this month, and Sephora plans to open in 2025.

CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

KS Partners' 15 Court Sq.
Ks Partners Filed Plans To Convert Part Of Its 15 Court Square Office Building.

KS Partners filed an application with the Boston Planning Department to convert its 15 Court Square office building into 80 residential units. The proposal would take advantage of the city's Downtown Residential Conversion Incentive Pilot Program. The project would create 42 studio apartments, 20 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units. The conversion would take place on the second through 11th floors.

***

Market Basket is seeking to redevelop a Showcase Cinema in Seekonk into a grocery store and other retail buildings, the Boston Business Journal reported. Demoulas Super Markets paid $9.5M to acquire the property, and it is reportedly leasing it back to Showcase for an undisclosed period. The buyer said in a state environmental regulatory filing that it plans to open a grocery store in the largest of the buildings.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Boston Newsletters
Related Stories

Energy Company Opens 125K SF Newton Office: The Boston Deal Sheet

Simon Approaching End Of The Road With Struggling Suburban Boston Mall

Bally's Lines Up $560M Loan For Bronx Casino: The N.Y. Deal Sheet

California Investor Scoops Up Amazon Warehouse: The Chicago Deal Sheet

Goldman Sachs Pays $154M For Davie Apartments: The South Florida Deal Sheet

Wu Proposes Tax Breaks To Jump-Start Stalled Housing Projects

Machine Investment Group Buys 490-Unit Multifamily Property In North Dallas: The DFW Deal Sheet

Oxford Properties' U.S. Investment Head On Why It's Buying Office Again — And Where

Chapman Market Owners Get $29M Refinance: The Los Angeles Deal Sheet

Fertility Provider Opens Clinic At 1900 Lawrence Office Tower: The Denver Deal Sheet

Security Tech Firm Plans Loudoun HQ Move: The D.C. Deal Sheet

16K SF Restaurant, Event Space Opens At 5POP Office: The Houston Deal Sheet