BOSTON OFFICE MARKET FIRST QUARTER 2017 OFFICESTATUS FINANCIAL DISTRICT BOSTON Inside...»»Tenants absorb 224,000 square feet during the first quarter of 2017.»»Class A product in Boston CBD contributed 201,000 square feet of positive absorption.»»vacancy in Cambridge declines to second lowest rate on record.»»financial District led the way in absorption.»»absorption remains positive along the I495 belt.»»10 St. James Avenue & 75 Arlington Street in the Back Bay purchased by Mori Trust.
BOSTON OFFICE MARKET FIRST QUARTER 2017 Momentum Continues into the New Year Financial District Leads the Market in Absorption As the first quarter of the year comes to an end, the 186millionsquarefoot Greater Boston office market thrived in most categories. With only one quarter of negative absorption during the last 4 years, the office market continued to prosper, experiencing 224,000 square feet of positive absorption, while vacancy decreased slightly and asking rents increased. The Boston CBD, consisting of 74 million square feet, contributed 77,000 square feet of positive absorption in the first quarter of 2017. Once again, the Financial District led the charge with 328,000 square feet positively absorbed. Also impressive was the Charlestown market that, thanks in large part to Boston Medical Center, experienced 174,000 square feet of positive absorption, its largest on record. There were several large moveins that resulted in the heavy absorption, including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Wells Fargo at 125 High Street in the Financial District, and Red Hat at 300 A Street in the Seaport District. The coworking concept continued to expand to the Back Bay with The Yard signing a lease at 120 St. James Avenue. The Cambridge market rebounded well from the end of 2016, positively absorbing 112,000 square feet during the first quarter of 2017. Alongside the positive absorption, vacancy also dropped significantly from 4.2 percent last quarter to an impressive current rate of 2.8 percent. The three submarkets, East Cambridge, Mid Cambridge, and West Cambridge, performed well, all experiencing positive absorption and decreasing vacancy rates. The largest movein belonged to Surface Oncology, taking 32,000 square feet at 50 Hampshire Street in East Cambridge. Despite a slightly uncharacteristic quarter for Route 128, with negative absorption of 68,000 square feet, the suburban marketplace as a whole remained steady through the beginning of the new year. Interstate 495 saw many credit quality tenants take chunks of space, positively absorbing 133,000 square feet. The future looks bright for both suburban markets, as many signed deals are set to commence in the coming quarters, while there are currently more than 1.3 million square feet under construction. The Greater Boston economy as a whole remains strong and poised to continue its momentum though 2017. According to an economic outlook report by NAIOP, commercial real estate nationwide has had a tremendously positive impact on the overall economy. Some of the highlights included the industry s ability to provide more than 6 million American jobs, contribute over $800 billion to U.S. GDP, and generate more than $250 billion in salaries and wages. Unemployment in Greater Boston is approximately 3 percent, well below the national average of around 5 percent. Between job growth and a low unemployment rate, Greater Boston looks healthy and prepared to continue thriving. TRENDLINES 5YEAR TREND RATES RENTAL RATE RBA CURRENT QUARTER 12.5% Vacancy Rates declined +224K SF Absorption hits four quarter streak $43.75 PSF Average asking rents continue to rise 0K SF No new deliveries occured in Q1 AVERAGE OFFICE SALE PRICE $350 PSF 6.1% rise in office sale prices OFFICE USING EMPLOYMENT +3,290 jobs Job growth remained healthy this quarter 2 REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK BOSTON OFFICE MARKET Q1 2017
BOSTON Thousands SF Boston Market, Class A & B, Office 1,000 800 600 400 200 Absorption Qtrly Vacancy Rate 14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% Boston CBD contributed 77,000 sf of positive absorption in the first quarter of 2017, with Class A product responsible for 201,000 square feet of that absorption. Absorption has been positive 15 of the last 16 quarters, totaling 5.2 million square feet during that time. Per Sq. Ft. 4.0% (200) 2.0% (400) 0.0% ASKING RENTS Back Bay vs Financial District, Class A, Office Back Bay Financial District $70.00 $60.00 $50.00 $40.00 $30.00 $20.00 $10.00 $0.00 Class A vacancy dropped 0.5 percentage points from 10 percent to 9.5 percent. Overall average asking rents rose slightly, with Class A space at $55.79 per sf and Class B space at about $42.60 per sf. The Financial District and Charlestown market combined for 502,000 sf of positive absorption. There is currently 1.1 million sf under construction in the Seaport District, where Skanska will soon start construction on a 225,000 sf speculative office building on Drydock Avenue. Number of Blocks Boston Market, Class A & B, Office 20 to 50K sf in distinct properties 50 45 40 35 30 25 Class A Class B Large vacancies were filled as Boston Medical Center moved into 171,000 sf at 529 Main Street in Charlestown, while 125 High Street in the Financial District saw Houghton Mifflin Harcourt move into 160,000 sf and Wells Fargo begin phasing into its 150,000 sf space. The Yard signed a lease for 32,000 sf at 120 St. James Avenue, joining WeWork in the Back Bay as coworking expands throughout the city. 20 15 10 5 Liberty Mutual sold 10 St. James Ave & 75 Arlington Street in the Back Bay to Mori Trust Company for $673 million (825,000 sf, $816/sf). Boston Office Market Indicators by Class Class A 46,780 0 201 1,086 2.6% 9.5% $55.79 2.5% Class B 27,627 0 (124) (238) 0.9% 9.2% $42.60 7.1% Boston Total 74,407 0 77 848 1.3% 9.4% $52.15 2.6% 4QTR** REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK BOSTON OFFICE MARKET Q1 2017 3
BOSTON OFFICE MARKET FIRST QUARTER 2017 CAMBRIDGE The Cambridge office market saw 112,000 sf positively absorbed this quarter, rebounding well from the fourth quarter of 2016. Multiple tenant moveins brought the vacancy down 1.4 percentage points to a current level of 2.8 percent, the second lowest on record. Thousands SF Cambridge, Class A & B, Office 600 500 400 300 Absorption Qtrly Vacancy Rate 10.0% 9.0% 8.0% 7.0% 6.0% The average asking rent for Class A space in Cambridge is $65.19 per sf, more than $8.00 higher than the five year average of $56.98 per sf. The 6.1 msf market of East Cambridge led the way in absorption, with 57,000 sf positively absorbed, while West Cambridge and Mid Cambridge added 37,000 sf and 19,000 sf, respectively. 200 5.0% 4.0% 100 3.0% 2.0% (100) 1.0% (200) 0.0% ASKING RENTS Popularity in East Cambridge remains evident as vacancy dropped drastically to 1.9 percent, overall average asking rents bumped to $74.12 per sf, and Class A trophy space is currently trading in the mid $90s range. Per Sq. Ft. Cambridge, Class A, Office $90.00 $80.00 $70.00 $60.00 $50.00 $40.00 $30.00 East Mid West There is currently one block in the 100,000 sf to 200,000 sf range available in Cambridge; a sublease from Biogen at 105 Broadway in East Cambridge. $20.00 $10.00 $0.00 Surface Oncology moved into 32,000 sf in East Cambridge at 50 Hampshire Street, while Novartis extended at 200 Technology Square for 47,185 sf. Oxford Properties Group and Alony Hetz Peroperties bought 25 First Street in Cambridge from Jamestown Properties for $202.5 million (232,400 sf, $871 per sf). Number of Blocks Cambridge, Class A & B, Office 20 to 50K sf in distinct properties 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 Class A Class B Cambridge Office Market Indicators by Class Class A 8,083 0 102 94 1.2% 2.5% $65.19 5.2% Class B 3,066 0 10 (30) 1.0% 3.8% $59.18 27.4% Cambridge Total 11,150 0 112 63 0.6% 2.8% $64.16 8.3% 4QTR** 4 REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK BOSTON OFFICE MARKET Q1 2017
ROUTE 128 Per Sq. Ft. Thousands SF Route 128, Class A & B, Office Absorption Qtrly Vacancy Rate 800 20.0% 18.0% 600 16.0% 14.0% 400 12.0% 200 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% (200) 2.0% (400) 0.0% ASKING RENTS Route 128, Class A, Office North West South $45.00 $40.00 $35.00 $30.00 $25.00 $20.00 $15.00 $10.00 $5.00 $0.00 Despite negative absorption of 68,000 sf this quarter, Route 128 has experienced 819,000 sf of positive absorption during the last twelve months. Since 2010, tenants have absorbed more than 8.0 million square feet of office space, while only experiencing negative absorption in four quarters. Vacancy along Route 128 is currently 13.3 percent, with Route 128 South slightly edging out Route 128 West for the lowest vacancy rate, 11.3 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively. Vacancy in Route 128 North is at an alltime low of 14.5 percent, while the vacancy rate in 128 South remained stable from last quarter s 11.3 percent. Multiple moveins helped Route 128 West lead the charge in absorption, totaling 52,000 sf of positive absorption during this quarter. 200 Smith Street in Waltham is still under construction, with 430,000 sf expected to be delivered to the market by the end of this year. Number of Blocks Route 128, Class A & B, Office 20 to 50K sf in distinct properties 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 Class A Class B ConforMIS is responsible for the largest move in during the quarter, occupying 45,000 sf at 600 Technology Park Drive in Billerica. MetroNorth (125 & 150 Presidential Way) in Route 128 North was sold by National Development and Angelo, Gordon & Co. to The Andover Companies for $47 million (221,000 sf, $213 per sf). 20 10 Route 128 Office Market Indicators by Class Class A 34,393 0 (32) 557 1.8% 12.0% $30.60 0.3% Class B 27,862 0 (36) 262 1.1% 13.6% $23.24 7.6% Route 128 Total 61,976 0 (68) 819 1.5% 12.7% $27.47 2.5% 4QTR** REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK BOSTON OFFICE MARKET Q1 2017 5
BOSTON OFFICE MARKET FIRST QUARTER 2017 INTERSTATE 495 The Interstate 495 market experienced 133,000 sf of positive absorption in the first quarter of 2017. Despite the positive absorption, I495 saw vacancy remain stable at 21.7 percent, while the average asking rent rose into the $19.00 range for the first time in eight years, to $19.31 per sf. Class A vacancy along the I495 belt is currently 17.1 percent, while Class B vacancy is 25 percent. Thousands SF I495, Class A & B, Office Absorption Qtrly Vacancy Rate 400 23.0% 300 22.5% 22.0% 200 21.5% 100 21.0% 20.5% (100) 20.0% (200) 19.5% (300) 19.0% (400) 18.5% The I495 North submarket led the way, positively absorbing 118,000 sf, while vacancy dropped 0.8 percentage points to 23.8 percent and the asking rent jumped to $19.36 per sf. I495 West snapped a twoquarter negative absorption streak, positively absorbing 38,000 sf to start 2017. Per Sq. Ft. ASKING RENTS I495, Class A, Office $23.00 $22.00 $21.00 $20.00 $19.00 North West South Though there were several moveins, Mercury Systems was primarily responsible for the positive absorption, occupying 155,100 sf at 50 Minuteman Road in Andover. $18.00 $17.00 $16.00 $15.00 In the I495 West submarket, both Speedline Technologies and Disruptor Beam signed leases set to commence in June, with Speedline taking nearly 40,000 sf at 35 Parkwood Drive in Hopkinton, and Disruptor Beam moving into 30,600 sf at 100 Pennsylvania Avenue in Framingham. Number of Blocks I495, Class A & B, Office 20 to 50K sf in distinct properties 70 60 50 40 Class A Class B The Gutierrez Company sold 100 Nagog Park in Acton to the Insulet Corporation for $9.3 million (194,800 sf, $47.48 per sf). 30 20 10 I495 Office Market Indicators by Class Class A 14,596 0 122 384 3.2% 17.1% $21.92 2.9% Class B 19,842 0 11 637 5.2% 25.0% $17.19 1.2% I495 Total 34,438 0 133 39 0.1% 21.7% $19.31 2.2% 4QTR** 6 REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK BOSTON OFFICE MARKET Q1 2017
Greater Boston Office Market Indicators by Submarket Financial District 36,212 0 328 112 0.3% 8.8% $53.67 2.9% Back Bay 14,284 0 (224) 151 1.2% 12.2% $61.17 0.2% Longwood/Inner South 5,551 0 8 188 3.7% 8.5% $38.68 Seaport District 9,473 0 (131) 334 3.9% 10.6% $58.66 4.8% Charlestown 2,782 0 174 114 4.2% 3.1% Midtown 2,217 0 (68) (19) 1.0% 13.4% $50.00 North Station 2,391 0 6 (40) 1.8% 5.6% $52.00 South Station 1,498 0 (15) 10 0.7% 5.4% Boston Total 74,407 0 77 848 1.3% 9.4% $55.79 2.5% East Cambridge/Kendall Square 7,355 0 57 151 2.1% 1.9% $77.08 3.6% Mid Cambridge/Harvard Square 2,129 0 19 (100) 5.0% 5.1% $63.94 0.8% West Cambridge/Alewife Station 1,666 0 37 13 0.8% 3.9% $46.78 0.9% Cambridge Total 11,150 0 112 63 0.6% 2.8% $65.19 5.2% Inner North/Streetcar Suburbs 3,714 0 (30) 302 9.5% 14.6% $29.82 3.2% Suburban Submarkets (excl Cam) 100,128 0 35 1,160 1.4% 15.9% $27.83 0.7% Route 128 North 26,226 0 (118) 163 0.7% 14.5% $27.42 1.1% Route 128 West 23,344 0 52 395 1.9% 11.5% $38.56 0.6% Route 128 South 12,406 0 (3) 261 2.4% 11.3% $22.92 1.1% Route 128 Total 61,976 0 (68) 819 1.5% 12.7% $30.60 0.3% I495 North 15,415 0 118 276 2.3% 23.8% $21.49 3.3% I495 West 16,400 0 38 (329) 2.5% 20.9% $22.39 2.4% I495 South 2,623 0 (24) 93 4.1% 13.9% $21.37 1.4% I495 Total 34,438 0 133 39 0.1% 21.7% $21.92 2.9% Route 128 & I495 Total 96,414 0 65 858 1.1% 15.9% $27.80 0.8% Greater Boston Market Total 185,685 0 224 2,072 1.3% 12.5% $43.75 4.3% CLASS A 4QTR*** Context: Vacancy Rate by Submarket Class A & B, Office 30% 2017 Q1 5Yr Average 25% Vacancy Rate 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 495 North 495 West 128 North 128 West 128 South Back Bay Financial District Seaport Cambridge REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK BOSTON OFFICE MARKET Q1 2017 7
METHODOLOGY The information in this report is the result of a compilation of information on office properties located in the Boston metropolitan area. This report includes singletenant, multitenant office properties 20,000 sf and larger, excluding condo and medical office facilities and those properties owned and occupied by a user or government agency. CONTACT Chase Bourdelaise Director of Research, Northeast Region 617.439.9313 Chase.Bourdelaise@transwestern.com Tom Hovey Research Analyst 617.778.7163 Thomas.Hovey@transwestern.com 99 High Street, 30th Floor Boston, MA 02110 T 617.439.6000 F 617.439.9707 www.transwestern.com/boston Copyright 2017 Transwestern. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or distributed to third parties without written permission of the copyright owner. The information contained in this report was gathered by Transwestern from CoStar and other primary and secondary sources believed to be reliable. Transwestern, however, makes no representation concerning the accuracy or completeness of such information and expressly disclaims any responsibility for any inaccuracy contained herein.