A dot-com expansion is rare news these days and WebMap, which develops Web-navigating solutions, nearly tripled its current 3,400 sf of office space here. "We were in the market for a long time," John Colburn, the company's financial controller, tells GlobeSt.com.

"We were trying to find the perfect space," he says. Negotiations with the landlord enabled WebMap to get the space at $35 per sf, a lease rate that is below market for this area, between the North Station and the financial district. The company wanted to stay in the city to accommodate its employees, who like the central location. WebMap was founded in Israel and chose Boston for its US presence because of its access to skilled workers and academic advisors.

"This is a great spot to be in," Cecilia Hellman, WebMap's spokesperson tells GlobeSt.com. "We need to have access to people with a lot of knowledge and we need to be able to have a close interaction with them. We have that here."