News: Northern New England

Foster and Sigfridson of The Boulos Company lease 3,357 s/f to Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Portland, ME The Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce will be moving from its longtime location at 443 Congress St. to 93 Exchange St., in a deal brokered by Cam Foster and Drew Sigfridson of The Boulos Company on behalf of the tenant, and Malone’s Pete Harrington on behalf of the landlord. The Chamber plans to be up and running in its new home by June 1.

In May 2021, the Chamber hired Foster and Sigfridson to begin the search for a new headquarters. With their lease expiring in February 2022, they saw an opportunity to reduce real estate costs by eliminating unneeded square footage. Must-haves included a downtown location with a brick and beam feel, a large conference room, a retail presence, and most importantly, easy access for the community.

The project team, which included Gretchen Boulos of Boulos Commercial Design, evaluated all available options, doing test-fits and financial analyses to show how the organization would lay out and operate. At 3,357 s/f, the first floor of 93 Exchange St. checked all the boxes. The historic brownstone  is located across the street from the Press Hotel, one block from Post Office Park, around the corner from the Chamber’s old location.

Quincy Hentzel

“Cam and his team were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. They provided value from day one to the day we signed the lease,” said Chamber CEO Qunicy Hentzel. “Our new office space is key for the organization. It will serve as a hub for collaboration as well as a place for our members and the business community to gather and build relationships. Gretchen Boulos with Boulos Commercial Design was also instrumental in this process. She helped us design a workplace that will make our Chamber team and members proud.”

“For many years, businesses looking for office space in downtown Portland haven’t had a lot of options,” said Foster. “As companies reassess their needs amidst the shift to a hybrid workplace, we’re seeing a rise in available office options, and it’s creating enticing new opportunities. Business leaders are asking, ‘What do we want to give our employees and clients access to? How can we streamline our costs and spend more on what matters to us? And what are the available options?’ There’s a lot of activity on the horizon, and it’s very exciting.”

READ ON THE GO
DIGITAL EDITIONS
Subscribe
READ ON THE GO
DIGITAL EDITIONS
Subscribe
Quick Hits
STAY INFORMED FOR $9.99/Mo.
NEREJ PRINT EDITION
Stay Informed
STAY CONNECTED
SIGN-UP FOR NEREJ EMAILS
Newsletter
Columns and Thought Leadership
Ask the Electrician:  How do I prepare my commercial building for a disaster?

Ask the Electrician: How do I prepare my commercial building for a disaster?

New England’s notorious weather – from fierce winter storms to summer squalls and fall hurricanes – can leave businesses in the dark. While power outages are often blamed on storms, they can also be caused by unforeseen events like accidents or construction mishaps. While it’s impossible to prevent disasters and power outages entirely, proactive preparation can significantly minimize their impact on your commercial building.
The New England Real Estate Journal presents<br> the First Annual Project of the Year Award! Vote today!

The New England Real Estate Journal presents
the First Annual Project of the Year Award! Vote today!

The New England Real Estate proud to showcase the remarkable projects that have graced the cover and center spread of NEREJ this year, all made possible by the collaboration of outstanding project teams. Now, it's time to recognize the top project of 2024, and we need your vote!
Investing in a falling rate environment - by Harrison Klein

Investing in a falling rate environment - by Harrison Klein

Long-term interest rates have fallen by 100 basis points, and the market is normalizing. In December of 2022 I wrote an article about investing in a high interest rate, high inflation market. Since then, inflation has cooled off, and the Fed has begun lowering their funds rate.
The 2024 CRE markets: “The Ups” (industrial) and “The Downs” (Boston class B/C office) - by Webster Collins

The 2024 CRE markets: “The Ups” (industrial) and “The Downs” (Boston class B/C office) - by Webster Collins

The industrial markets have never been stronger. What has happened is that the build out of Devens with new high-tech biotech manufacturing with housing to service these buildings serves as the connector required to really make the I-495 West market sizzle. Worcester has been the beneficiary