News

High-Dollar Sale Shows Investors Have Noticed Downtown Boston's Class-B Office

With Class-A office properties at sky-high prices — the sale of 1 Kendall Square for $1,072/SF last year — investors are looking for quality Class-B assets to stock their Boston portfolios. A recent transaction in the Ladder District for $400/SF underscores the trend.

Courtesy of Colliers International

Recently Eden Properties snapped up the 53k SF 26 West St. property in the Ladder District, between the Downtown Crossing and Park Street T stations, for $21.8M. “The sale of 26 West St. for more than $400/SF demonstrates the strength and depth of the Class-B Downtown market," said Colliers International EVP Scott Dragos, who repped the seller, Synergy Investments.

26 West St. generated a lot of buyer interest, receiving more than 15 offers, Dragos said. "There's high demand with tenants and investors right now, so with that trend and its location virtually atop two major MBTA stations, it’s no surprise that pricing shook out where it did.” It is a solid price for Class-B, but a bargain compared with Class-A.

Courtesy of Colliers International

About two-thirds of the property is leased long term to the Service Employees International Union. Dragos said the asset offers steady income for the buyer, but also an upside potential for the retail component.

Class-B fundamentals are strong in a number of core Boston submarkets, according to Colliers International data. In the Financial District, for instance, Class-B vacancy was 8.9% at the end of 2016, compared to Class-A vacancy of 12.3%.

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

Why Top-Secret Facilities Are Permeating Greater D.C.'s Office Market

DivcoWest Sells Glendale Office Building For $70M

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

Simon Approaching End Of The Road With Struggling Suburban Boston Mall

Hines And Rialto Close Office Credit Fund At $1.1B

Wu Proposes Tax Breaks To Jump-Start Stalled Housing Projects

Rig Collapse At Citadel HQ Site Sends 4 To Hospital

Northern Virginia Office Tower Sells For Double Its 2024 Price

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

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

Office Revenues Are Failing To Keep Pace With Expenses

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