Cambridge’s Harvard Square
Cambridge,
Massachusetts is one of the most beautiful places to live, work,
and study. With a great deal of investment having come to the area
recently in the form of brand new high-tech, bio-tech, and other
start-up ventures, the latest news from this bustling area of the
Bay State comes to us from the ever so popular Harvard Square. It
is here where a $65 Million redevelopment project just got underway
with the groundbreaking of 114 Mount Auburn Street and the
renovation efforts of the Conductors Building.
The developer behind this initiative is Richard
Friedman, the man behind the Charles Hotel. He is now in the midst
of building a lovely eight-story, 70,000 square foot building in
Harvard Square that will include first-class retail and office
space, in addition to a restaurant. The new $65 Million building
will be 100% leased to Harvard University, while occupancy will
begin upon its completion, expected to be early in 2015. In
addition, the redevelopment of the 5,000 square foot Conductors
Building will be historically preserved and renovated
simultaneously.
Friedman himself noted that, For the last 30 years,
Ive been staring out my window at this eyesore so we are happy to
fix it up. It was just in 2012 when his firm, Carpenter & Co.,
purchased the property to thus take control of the entire block
adjacent to the Charles Hotel. A purchase of 114-116 Mount Auburn
Street in Harvard Square was purchased for $4 Million, while
another transaction in 2007 for $3.2 Million secured Carpenter &
Co. the adjacent parcel of land.
Looking back some years, Richard Friedman is still very much
highly respected for his involvement in the marvelous redevelopment
of the former Charles Street Jail into the famous Liberty Hotel we
see today. With such a storied history of transforming some of the
areas major eyesores into spectacular new spaces, there is much to
look forward to upon the completion of his vision for Cambridges Harvard
Square.
More Information: Boston Business
Journal