Micro-Apartments....a Good Fit for Boston's Growing Housing Market?

San Francisco is one city among many in the United States that is seeing an influx of young professional workers flocking to city limits for a new “live and play” lifestyle. Many of these young newcomers to the city work jobs that pay decent salaries, but not enough to fully support the skyrocketing monthly rent costs for studios, or one, or two-bedroom apartments. To combat this dilemma, felt in the pockets of both renters and landlords, developers are exploring a new and seemingly effective trend to offer high-quality housing at a cheaper price. Micro-apartments, as they are being called within the industry, offer a much more cost-effective alternate to traditional apartment homes while sharing most of the features you would find in a $3,000/month 1-bedroom.

The term “micro” perfectly describes the layout and floor plan style for one of these apartments. Features of a standard apartment home such as a kitchen, bathroom, living room, entryway, closet, and even in some cases washer and dryer can be found within one general living space in a micro-style layout. The one difference is that all of these features are compacted into a small 300-400 square foot area. Micro-apartments may not be designed for young families intent on raising children but rather young individuals or couples who are willing to sacrifice space to better their future financial investments. 

The market for micro-apartments has yet to be established and their development is still in an infant stage. How micro-apartments affect the housing market in Boston is unknown, in the coming years we can expect to hear a lot of feedback about this new urban style of living. For more information on micro-apartments and their expected arrival in Boston, check out this Boston Globe feature article

Father Bill's & MainSpring Benefit Dinner for the Homeless

Each and every summer for the past 19 years one July evening in Quincy’s Marina Bay neighborhood showcases numerous celebrities, local philanthropists, and everyday citizens aiming to end homelessness in the greater Boston area. Tuesday July 30^th many will flock to the Ocean Club at Marina Bay to gather for a night of fine dining, raffles, guest appearances, and picturesque Boston skyline views, with all of the proceeds going to Father Bill’s & MainSpring Foundation for the homeless.

Individual tickets start at $100 for this event that will have samplings from 40 of your favorite South Shore eateries as well as delicious beverage choices. On top of individual tickets, sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available as well with all proceeds going to the work of Father Bill’s. Past year’s events have helped continue to fund the amazing work that Father Bill’s and MainSpring do to end homelessness for all throughout the Boston metro area.

Father Bill’s and MainSpring work with various housing agencies throughout Massachusetts to build, develop, and manage homes for individuals, families, and veterans in need of emergency housing. Each year Father Bill’s constructs homes throughout the region to provide full-time and temporary housing for those in need. Their goal is to not just place homeless in homes, but to continue working with them in all aspects of life to see that they live the American Dream.

For anyone interested in attending or donating to a wonderful cause please visit Father Bills’ official website for additional information and reservations.

Some "Do's" and "Don't's" to Stay Safe During the Summer Heat!

Today marks the 5^th straight day the Boston area has seen temperatures soar well into the 90’s. With this extended heat wave comes plenty of great opportunity to enjoy local beaches, swimming pools, boating activities, and parks. With all the fun potential activities that the summer months can bring out, the sun and scorching heat conditions can also pose serious dangers and risks to all ages. While it’s easy to experience summer fun in numerous places throughout Boston, it’s even easier to read up and understand basic tips to stay safe and cool during the hot summer days. Below is a list of DO’s and DON’T’s courtesy of the City of Somerville, Massachusetts.

Do:

-          DO drink lots of water and sport drinks

-          DO wear loose fitting, light weight, light colored clothing

-          DO check on elderly people

-          DO use SPF-15 (or higher) sun block and wear a hat

-          DO rest often in shady areas

-          DO go to an air conditioned place; such as a shopping mall during severe heat

-          DO listen to the news and the public announcements for heat advisories

Don’t:

-          DON’T underestimate the seriousness of heat-related emergencies

-          DON’T leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle

-          DON’T drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages

-          DON’T stay in the hot weather if you feel sick

-          DON’T overexert yourself or work outside without taking breaks

-          DON’T hesitate to call EMS and seek medical attention

Corcoran Management Announces a New 289-Apartment Home Community Next to Forest Hills Orange Line Station!

On June 19^th Corcoran Management’s plans for the construction of a 289-apartment community  in Jamaica Plain were featured in the Boston Globe. A 300,000-square-foot site at 3595 Washington Street is slated to be the future home for another “Corcoran Community”. We here at Corcoran are extremely excited for this announcement as well as the upcoming events in the next couple months. The neighborhood of Jamaica Plain is full of culture and is buzzing with a recent boom of local businesses and attractions within the last couple years, and we only anticipate a continued community development!

A mix of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom apartment homes will be found at Corcoran’s new development along with first floor space for retail, service, restaurant, or residential amenity use. The new apartment homes at Forest Hills will be a commuter’s dream. Whether biking, driving, or riding the T, you will be near endless points of access to all neighborhoods of Boston and surrounding communities. The Forest Hills Orange Line station will be just a minute stroll out your front door step and can take you to Northeastern University, Downtown Crossing, North Station, or to any number of destinations throughout the greater Boston area.

The next coming weeks and months will sure to bring more updates on Corcoran’s Jamaica Plan development. Be sure to check out our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for up-to-date information!