The partnership with the city will also improve wireless services in Boston by enabling Verizon to attach wireless equipment to city streetlights and utility poles, helping residents get fast, reliable mobile service.

In addition, the city says it will begin the cable television licensing process. Upon successful completion of the licensing process, Verizon expects to offer Fios TV service in Boston.

Leasing

Hackman Capital Partners, LLC and Calare Properties, Inc. have appointed JLL as the exclusive leasing agent for Riverview Business Park, a 130-acre business campus located at 495/515 Woburn St. in Billerica, MA.

Formerly home to Raytheon, the park recently underwent a multi-million-dollar transformation focused on the property's largest facility, a 563,322-square-foot building at 495 Woburn St. Phase 1 of the transformation included: a contemporary front entrance lobby featuring an exposed steel roof; floor to ceiling glass and river rock details and seating area; a modern facade with a cantilevered backlit glass curtain wall, canopy, and frosted glass; lush landscape improvements with an outdoor courtyard; and a new parking lot adjacent to the front entrance. Future plans include a fitness center, cafeteria and interior courtyard.

JLL managing director Chris Lawrence and SVP Brian Tisbert are leading the leasing team on the park, which is part of a more than 10 million-square-foot portfolio owned by a joint venture formed by Hackman Capital Partners, Calare Properties and KBS Real Estate Investment Trust. The majority of that portfolio is located in New England.

Pneumatic systems and automation components distributor Air Inc. renewed its 20,000-square-foot least at Forge Park in Franklin, MA, which is owned by Exeter Property Group.

Colliers International's South West team of Stephen Woelfel, Dave Goodhue and PJ Foster brokered the transaction for the tenant. Air Inc. has been a tenant in Forge Park since 1991 and moved from #9 to #8 Forge Park prior to this most recent renewal.

Acquisitions

Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers, acting on behalf of an unnamed institutional investor, reports it originated a $335-million loan for an affiliate of Blackstone to finance the acquisition of four Club Quarters Hotels in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

“These hotels are in impeccable cities, which are ranked among the largest and strongest lodging markets in the U.S.,” says Jamie Henderson, chief investment officer – alternative investments at Cornerstone. “We are pleased to provide Blackstone with this important strategic financing and to further expand our relationship.”

Each of the properties benefits from exceptional city-center locations near numerous business and leisure demand drivers, Cornerstone states in its announcement. The Blackstone acquisition comprises a portfolio of 1,228-keys and includes the 346-room Club Quarters San Francisco; the 178-room Club Quarters Boston; the 429-room Club Quarters Chicago Central Loop and the 275-room Club Quarters Philadelphia. The properties have benefited from more than $16 million of capital investment since 2009, including almost $8 million of capital investment in 2013 and 2014.

Mesirow Financial has acquired the 212-unit Alta Stone Place multifamily development in Melrose, MA.

The sale was arranged by HFF, which marketed the property exclusively on behalf of the seller, Wood Partners, LLC. Mesirow Financial purchased the asset free and clear of existing debt. No financial terms of the transaction were released.

Alta Stone Place, located at 1000 Stone Place, was completed in 2015 and offers a mix of loft-style units in a renovated brick and beam mill building, as well as traditional units in three newly constructed buildings. The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by managing director Christopher Phaneuf and director Mark Campbell.

BOSTON—Verizon will spend more than $300 million over the next six years to convert the city's copper based technology infrastructure to a higher-speed fiber optic network.

The initiative announced earlier this week by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh will bring increased competition and choice for broadband and entertainment services in Boston, and support the ongoing efforts to spur innovation and economic opportunity in all neighborhoods, city official say.

Construction of the fiber-optic network will be completed by neighborhood. Initially, the project will begin in Dorchester, West Roxbury and the Dudley Square neighborhood of Roxbury in 2016, followed by Hyde Park, Mattapan, and other areas of Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. The city has also agreed to provide an expedited permitting process in connection with the Verizon fiber optic project.

“Boston is moving faster than our current infrastructure can support, and a modern fiber-optic communications platform will make us a next level city,” says Mayor Walsh. “Additionally, it is a priority to ensure that every resident has expanded access to broadband and increasing competition is critical to reaching that goal.”

The partnership with the city will also improve wireless services in Boston by enabling Verizon to attach wireless equipment to city streetlights and utility poles, helping residents get fast, reliable mobile service.

In addition, the city says it will begin the cable television licensing process. Upon successful completion of the licensing process, Verizon expects to offer Fios TV service in Boston.

Leasing

Hackman Capital Partners, LLC and Calare Properties, Inc. have appointed JLL as the exclusive leasing agent for Riverview Business Park, a 130-acre business campus located at 495/515 Woburn St. in Billerica, MA.

Formerly home to Raytheon, the park recently underwent a multi-million-dollar transformation focused on the property's largest facility, a 563,322-square-foot building at 495 Woburn St. Phase 1 of the transformation included: a contemporary front entrance lobby featuring an exposed steel roof; floor to ceiling glass and river rock details and seating area; a modern facade with a cantilevered backlit glass curtain wall, canopy, and frosted glass; lush landscape improvements with an outdoor courtyard; and a new parking lot adjacent to the front entrance. Future plans include a fitness center, cafeteria and interior courtyard.

JLL managing director Chris Lawrence and SVP Brian Tisbert are leading the leasing team on the park, which is part of a more than 10 million-square-foot portfolio owned by a joint venture formed by Hackman Capital Partners, Calare Properties and KBS Real Estate Investment Trust. The majority of that portfolio is located in New England.

Pneumatic systems and automation components distributor Air Inc. renewed its 20,000-square-foot least at Forge Park in Franklin, MA, which is owned by Exeter Property Group.

Colliers International's South West team of Stephen Woelfel, Dave Goodhue and PJ Foster brokered the transaction for the tenant. Air Inc. has been a tenant in Forge Park since 1991 and moved from #9 to #8 Forge Park prior to this most recent renewal.

Acquisitions

Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers, acting on behalf of an unnamed institutional investor, reports it originated a $335-million loan for an affiliate of Blackstone to finance the acquisition of four Club Quarters Hotels in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

“These hotels are in impeccable cities, which are ranked among the largest and strongest lodging markets in the U.S.,” says Jamie Henderson, chief investment officer – alternative investments at Cornerstone. “We are pleased to provide Blackstone with this important strategic financing and to further expand our relationship.”

Each of the properties benefits from exceptional city-center locations near numerous business and leisure demand drivers, Cornerstone states in its announcement. The Blackstone acquisition comprises a portfolio of 1,228-keys and includes the 346-room Club Quarters San Francisco; the 178-room Club Quarters Boston; the 429-room Club Quarters Chicago Central Loop and the 275-room Club Quarters Philadelphia. The properties have benefited from more than $16 million of capital investment since 2009, including almost $8 million of capital investment in 2013 and 2014.

Mesirow Financial has acquired the 212-unit Alta Stone Place multifamily development in Melrose, MA.

The sale was arranged by HFF, which marketed the property exclusively on behalf of the seller, Wood Partners, LLC. Mesirow Financial purchased the asset free and clear of existing debt. No financial terms of the transaction were released.

Alta Stone Place, located at 1000 Stone Place, was completed in 2015 and offers a mix of loft-style units in a renovated brick and beam mill building, as well as traditional units in three newly constructed buildings. The HFF investment sales team representing the seller was led by managing director Christopher Phaneuf and director Mark Campbell.