According to the Boston MLS, there are currently 11 units for sale at the South Boston green Macallen Building.  The development, and the process that made the Gold LEED certified building a reality, was featured in a documentary film called the Greening of Southie - for those that live in the development, and for those interested in potentially living in the development, the film is an eye-opening experience to the painstaking process that went into the LEED certification effort.

The 11 condos for sale at Macallen currently have an average listing price per square foot of approximately $614.  Unit 206, an open floor plan south-facing one-bedroom 801 square foot unit is currently listed at $448,800 ($560 per square foot), and represents the least expensive one-bedroom Macallen condo.

The Macallen Building represents concierge luxury living in a convenient location, with easy access to downtown via the Red Line across the street, and the city’s highways in close proximity. For more information, please use the contact us link at the top of this page.

South Boston’s Macallen Building, Boston’s first Gold LEED certified condo development, offers Buyers a stocked lineup of amenities, from a heated lap pool, to screening room with adjacent kitchen and bath for private parties, high-end fitness center, and 24-hour concierge.

Listed at $448,800, the least expensive 800+ square foot condo in the building for sale, unit 206 offers an open floorplan with sleeping alcove and high-end amenities galore.  Monthly HOA fee of approximately $396 includes Heat, Hot Water, Gas, Water, Sewer, Master Insurance, Security, Swimming Pool, Elevator, Exterior Maintenance, Landscaping, Snow Removal, Exercise Room, Internet, and DirecTV.  Onsite direct access parking is available for rent, or purchase (at $50,000).

Unit 206 at the Macallen Building will be held open Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Across the street from the Red Line’s Broadway T-Stop, it’s a convenient location to stop into during your Sunday afternoon.  For more information, please contact us using the link at the top of this page.

Absorption of the 140-unit new green (LEED certified) Macallen Building in South Boston has been steady since its opening in summer 2007.  Given the complexities and care that go into the development of such an environmentally-friendly and progressive building, price points are naturally  higher than its adjacent sister condo development, Court Square Press. That said, we predicated that a fully sold out Macallen Building would take slightly longer than perhaps a “standard” condo development elsewhere in the city, but nonetheless, Macallen is quickly approaching a sell out.

The sales team at the Macallen has the privilege of pushing a really good product.  And when we say good, we mean amenities galore, attention to clever details, accommodation / willingness to work through any punch list items to make a unit perfect, easy transportation (public and private) access, and an anchor property in a neighborhood now well-grounded in high-end condo developments and emerging commercial and retail space.  Additionally, the marketing effort has been helped by some innovative sales plays, the most notable of which involved the sales office giving a free hybrid car to unit Buyers that went Under Agreement and closed by certain deadlines (see Buy at Macallen, Get a Free Hybrid Car).  The latest move is perhaps not as headline catching, but provocative in its own right, as some units have been reduced in price upwards of $100,000.

Take for instance unit 804, a 1,191 square foot two-bedroom two-bathroom unit that features a balcony, lots of light on a high south-facing floor, and one deeded garage parking space in the direct elevator access garage, recently reduced approximately $100,000 to a new listing price of $689,000.  While the onsite sales office is accessible seven days a week, an open house was held this past weekend, and traffic in response to the price moves, was strong.

With the crisp, clean, and minimalist type lines and finishes at Macallen, the look may not suit everyone’s taste, but it’s hard to argue with the community that is being created between Macallen and Court Square Press (the two buildings now combine to form one condo association), and the living style and amenities (bordering on the “valet lifestyle” that we coined here) that are at your fingertips.  For more information on available units at the Macallen, contact us using the link at the top of this page.

A popular search phrase lately has been the Macallen Building, a 140-unit luxury eco-friendly development in South Boston.  Macallen opened to residents a little over a year ago, and has been well received by not only Bostonians, but the building has been the center of attention in many regards, namely for it LEED certification, the first in downtown Boston.

We predicted absorption of this large luxury development in South Boston would be slow with the (relatively) high price per square foot being demanded given the investment that a LEED certification requires.  Nonetheless, absorption has been steady, with currently only 16, both resale and developer, units for sale in the building. While sales prices at the Macallen over the past 6 months (10 units sold) have only been at 89% of list price, the price per square foot has averaged $570, which is still setting a new standard for South Boston.

Macallen’s sister development, Court Square Press, in comparison, has 5 units for sale currently, and over the past 6 months, the 7 units that sold in the building averaged $464 per square foot.  Court Square press offers more classic loft style living with exposed brick and beam, at a lower price point than Macallen, however, Court Square Press residents enjoy all of the same common amenities that Macallen residents enjoy - Macallen and Court Square Press were both built by Pappas Properties, and share a parking garage, lap pool, large deck with grills, fitness center, and viewing room with adjacent kitchen and bathroom (perfect for private parties).

Across the street, Macallen and Court Square Press have two new neighbors, the Allele building, and the Lofts at 36 A.  The Boston MLS shows that there are currently 18 condos for sale at Allele, with the average price per square foot of those sold over the past 6 months at approximately $390. The Allele is a new construction building, and boasts small outdoor balconies, yet lacks the same level of amenities that Macallen and Court Square Press can offer residents.  While the Lofts at 36 A lack some of the same amenities, it offers residents high end finishes, and a fabulous roof deck (both common and private spaces).  36 A, a boutique 26-unit development, is almost sold out, with 3 units currently available.  Over the past 6 months, the 14 units that sold averaged approximately $465 per square foot.

With all four of these developments being steps from the Red Line, they represent a viable alternative to some of the other core downtown neighborhoods, allowing your dollar to be stretched a little farther, especially in new construction.

Much has been happening this week, the activity levels on multiple fronts (announcements, under agreement properties, website traffic, auctions, etc.) is truly starting to create a buzz around town. Here is some of the latest.

Auctions - yes, that’s plural, it looks like downtown Boston residents will see at least two auctions in the near future, both at the Modern South End and the Broadluxe. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available (i.e. auction dates, etc.). Update: see Modern South End Boston Condo Auction.

285 Columbus Lofts - construction is flying along, as well as under agreement units. Occupancy is currently being targeted for mid May (this would be the first on time or ahead of schedule development in quite some time) and they are approximately 60% sold out at 285 Columbus Lofts - congratulations to Pat Cutter and the rest of the team there, fabulous property.

Parking Spaces - we just included a new Back Bay parking space for sale on our Boston Parking Spaces page - $90K for an inside tandem spot is pushing the envelope.

Macallen Building Video - the green Macallen condo development in what we call, northern South Boston, is getting some serious exposure from the Sundance Channel in a new feature film on the “greening of Southie”. Kudos to Pappas Properties for establishing green building as the new benchmark in Boston condos.

The Clarendon Back Bay - the ultra luxury Clarendon Back Bay began to install a huge plywood enclosure system from PERI Formwork Systems on the development. Soon the entire property will be covered in plywood so construction can continue behind it. Rumor is that large Boston Condo Guy ads will be displayed on the exterior of the plywood.

1330 Boylston Now Leasing - The new Fenway development is now leasing for August 1st occupancy. Contact the leasing team at 617 267 1330 for more information (look at that, catchy phone number, eh?).

Boston Marathon - not Robert Cheruiyot, but, John Keith. Congratulations go out to John for knocking out the tough course in a strong 3:45:29 finishing time, and for raising thousands of dollars for Community Servings in the process.

Some definite water cooler tidbits from the Boston Condo Blog. For more details, or for assistance in buying or selling a downtown Boston condo, please contact us.

We’ve received several inquiries lately regarding condo (HOA) fees at the Macallen Building in northern South Boston. HOA fees at Macallen include: Concierge, Heat, Hot Water, Gas, Water, Sewer, Master Insurance, Security, Swimming Pool, Elevator, Exterior Maintenance, Road Maintenance, Landscaping, Snow Removal, Recreational Facilities, Viewing Room, Exercise Room, and a Garden Area.

The Macallen Building is the first LEED certified development in Boston. Currently available units, and their corresponding fees, are detailed below. For more information about Macallen, or to setup a showing for a unit that fits your buying criteria, contact us.

Our Featured Open House of the week is taking place at South Boston’s green Macallen Building. From Noon - 2 PM on Sunday, December 16, 2007, Pappas Properties will hold open units at not only the Macallen Building (141 Dorchester Avenue), but their adjacent Court Square Press loft development.

This weekend provides you the opportunity to see two of the finest properties in northern South Boston. Let them know that Boston Condo Guy sent you, and if you need Buyer representation on a purchase, please contact us.

If you act fast, you can still take advantage of the Macallen’s year end clearance sale (see Buy at Macallen, Get a Free Hybrid Car).

Forget about a free plasma TV, or a year of HOA fees, we’re talking about a free hybrid car as a buying incentive at South Boston’s Macallen Building. Pappas Properties, the developer of the 140-unit green Macallen Building is offering a year-end clearance sale to entice Buyers into their units, and wow, are they going all out.

On a limited number of available units, prices have been slashed by upwards of $200,000 (for instance, unit 119 was listed for $1,160,000 and is now $929,000), putting price per square foot ranges on some units into the $500’s. If a Buyer reserves a unit before December 31, 2007, and closes on the property before March 1, 2008, the developer will give the Buyer a Toyota Camry Hybrid car, or, $30,000 if a car is not desired.

We’ve talked a lot about the Macallen, it being the first LEED certified green development in Boston, concierge building with amenities galore, truly setting a new baseline in northern South Boston, if not the city. And they continue to set a new baseline with unheard of Buyer incentives.

Please contact us to learn more about how to take advantage of this opportunity.

It’s approaching six months since the ultra-modern, green, Macallen Building opened to residents. The building has been well-received by all walks of life, yet, there are still 29 units that currently remain for sale at the 140-unit northern South Boston development.

We’ve discussed the Macallen, at 141 Dorchester Avenue, numerous times (click the ‘Macallen Building‘ tag just under the title of this post for more blog posts on the Macallen), the development is clever, and the absorption rate, as we predicted, would take time given that the Macallen is the first LEED certified condominium building in Boston real estate, and prices are consequently higher then neighboring developments. But are the prices staying locked?

As we begin to enter the winter stretch of home buying, sources state that there is room to maneuver at the Macallen related to pricing, with $50,000 price negotiations not uncommon among the moderately priced units. If you are at all tempted by the new baseline for green living in northern South Boston offered at the Macallen Building, contact us using the link at the top of this page for more details on the units currently ranging in price between $475,000 and $1,680,000 at this Massachusetts LEED condo development.

We have received almost 10 visits in the past several hours from readers who are looking for information on the bamboo flooring issue at the Macallen Building.

To shed a little light on the subject. Pappas Properties (the developer of the Macallen Building) has been back and forth with the company who laid some of the bamboo flooring in parts of the building after some units experienced buckling problems with the bamboo floors. We recently visited a studio/one-bedroom for sale overlooking the exquisite green terrace and lap pool, where the flooring issue was evident.

Needless to say, it’s an issue. Pappas has committed to rectifying the problem in all impacted units, and is working towards a settlement with the flooring company.