Transit as part of an office-location decision
The October 2017 discussion connected MBTA access with the growth of technology, life-sciences, healthcare and other employers in Boston and Cambridge. It considered how the places employees lived and the transportation they used could influence an office search.
That relationship did not prove that transit alone caused a rent increase. Parking needs, staffing, building condition and the specific route to work could differ between employers.
Three commercial districts
Back Bay was discussed through buildings such as the Prudential Center, the John Hancock Tower and 888 Boylston. Kendall Square’s relationship with MIT and companies including Google, Amazon and Novartis supplied a different commercial context.
North Station appeared as another submarket, with rail connections, new development and the prospect of additional office space. Its projects were not interchangeable with those in Cambridge or Back Bay.
Historical office-rent figures
The archive cited office-rent figures of about $66.69 per square foot in Back Bay, $85 in Kendall Square and $45 near North Station. These were period observations rather than current quotes or complete lease-cost comparisons.
The terms underlying an office figure matter: the building, space, quotation period and included expenses. Residential property values elsewhere in the article should not be read as residential rent on the same basis.
Development expectations did not establish outcomes
The discussion anticipated additional amenities and lower vacancies, but those were forecasts. It also mixed references to separate North Station and Government Center developments; they do not establish one project’s budget or scope.
This historical account preserves the connection between transport questions and commercial leasing. It does not promise current office availability, a commute time, future rent growth or investment performance.
Historical attribution: Original Boston City Properties article, October 2017. Reported claims and attributed assessments have not been independently refreshed.
