Feb 5, 2023 Universal Hub
Urban Spaces is making a mark on wide-ranging elements of the local real estate industry, from creation of affordable housing on vacant lots in Boston neighborhoods to major mixed-use projects on the outskirts of Cambridge’s Kendall Square. In 2004, Paul Ognibene founded the Cambridge-based development firm
Feb 2, 2023 Universal Hub
Feb 14, 2021 Universal Hub
Three developers have proposed replacing a long unused and decaying pier at the Charlestown Navy Yard with housing and various public amenities. Two proposed what would be Boston’s first floating neighborhood – a series of homes on floating platforms connected to a new pier that would double as a pedestrian walkway – while the third proposed dealing with higher sea levels by building a higher pier, topped by a building with affordable apartments.
Sep 20, 2022 The Boston Globe
For decades, it seemed as if urban developers couldn’t build enough parking. Now one Boston-area city may say they don’t have to build any at all. An ambitious new policy is moving forward in Cambridge that would end so-called minimum parking requirements for new residential development.
May 24, 2022 PRWeb
Urban Spaces is pleased to announce that BRIX, a 61-unit condominium development recently completed by Urban Spaces in Salem, Massachusetts, has received the Gold PRISM Award for best digital marketing campaign and the Silver PRISM Award for best logo of the year.
May 24, 2022 PRWeb
Paul Ognibene of Urban Spaces is pleased to announce that the latest component of the First Street Corridor transformation, “Flats on First” is complete and has been sold for $103 million. Flats on First is a mixed-used multi-family development comprised of 136 residential units, 14,800 square feet of ground floor retail, and a two-level 142-space underground parking garage.
May 24, 2022 PRWeb
Summary: Paul Ognibene and Urban Spaces hosted a ribbon cutting with Salem, Massachusetts Mayor Kim Driscoll and other dignitaries. At the event, Ognibene announced that BRIX, a 61-unit mixed-use condominium development in the heart of downtown Salem, has sold out.
January 30, 2022 Banker & Tradesman
Salem, MA In the spring of 2015, the city of Salem sought to increase the vibrancy of its downtown by replacing the vacant Salem District Courthouse at 65 Washington St. with a new building that would serve as an anchor to further energize the downtown district.
The courthouse site effectively served as the entrance corridor to the historic downtown, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Located just 100 yards from the MBTA commuter rail, which provides convenient access to Boston’s North Station in less than a half-hour, the site was a natural choice for Urban Spaces to construct a multifamily transit-oriented development…
December 20, 2021 Boston Real Estate Times
Salem, MA The joint venture of Urban Spaces and Diamond/Sinacori last week celebrated the opening of BRIX, the 61-unit, mixed-use condominium development in the heart of historic downtown Salem, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included BRIX residents, Massachusetts State Senator Joan Lovely, State Representative Paul Tucker, City of Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and other city officials, and various members of the development team…
Salem, MA Watch the much-awaited ribbon cutting and Grand Opening ceremony for BRIX Condominiums.
September 17, 2021 Northshore Magazine
Salem, MA A first of its kind project opens imminently in Salem, Massachusetts. BRIX is a newly constructed building of 61 luxury condominium units with first floor retail space, located right in Salem’s walkable downtown…
Boston, MA Watch the RFP response interview for the proposed Floating Community that Urban Spaces, as part of a tri-venture, recently submitted to the City of Boston for a project at Pier 5 in Charlestown Navy Yard…
Boston, MA Take a video tour of the proposed Navy Blue project…
Spring 2021 The DDC Journal
Salem, MA The BRIX development in Salem, Massachusetts, is a great example of what the team at Urban Spaces is known for. A mid-sized residential buildout in a centrally located urban infill location, BRIX invests in the growth and revitalization of its community and relies on local talent to get it done….
March 15, 2021 The Real Reporter
Salem, MA Real or imagined, the recent flight from the City of Boston due to COVID has caused developers considering multifamily development beyond the Boston/Cambridge city limits to carefully examine the viability of such projects. Despite the pandemic, last year Massachusetts recorded the most single-family home sales since 2004…
Boston Real Estate Times
Boston, MA Boston Real Estate Times, New England’s largest commercial real estate digital daily and video magazine, announced the winners of the 2020 Excellence Awards in Commercial Real Estate.
The honor of Urban Developer of the Year was awarded to Paul Ognibene, CEO of Urban Spaces.
January 21, 2021 Charlestown Patriot-Bridge
Charlestown, MA The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) told the development community they would need to be creative with any proposals from the blighted, condemned Pier 5 in the Navy Yard, and three entities did just that proposing innovative plans for mixed-use reuses of the pier. All three proposals will be reviewed in a public meeting on Feb. 8, and full submissions are now available on the project website….
December 28, 2020 The Real Reporter
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces has signed a 99-year ground lease expected to prove a blessing for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston which owns the four-building campus at 49 6th St. The historically designated Sacred Heart Catholic Church that sits on about 19,000 sf is expected to be restored as housing while the church remains open for services…
December 15, 2020 Cohasset Mariner
Cambridge, MA Cohasset resident Paul Ognibene, CEO of Urban Spaces, the Cambridge-based real estate development company, stepped up when the call went out that Food for Free, a Cambridge-based nonprofit, had lost their space.
Ognibene learned of Food For Free’s dilemma when Jason Alves, director of the East Cambridge Business Association, reached out to his membership to see if anyone could assist. Ognibene and his team met with Food For Free soon thereafter and, after just a few short meetings, had forged a partnership that provides Food For Free with a new facility…
December 10, 2020 Cambridge Chronicle
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces — a Cambridge-based real estate development company — and Food for Free — a Cambridge-based nonprofit dedicated to providing reliable access to fresh food — recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new food packing and distribution center. Located at 73 First St. across from the CambridgeSide shopping center, the facility aims to help Food For Free meet the growing demand for food during the COVID-19 health crisis. Urban Spaces is donating the rent and property management services for the 3,600 square-foot facility…
October 26, 2020 Salem Patch
Salem, MA — Charlesgate Realty Group and MerryFox Realty, the exclusive sales and marketing partners for BRIX Condominiums, are pleased to announce the grand opening of the Sales Gallery at BRIX in vibrant downtown Salem. As Salem’s first concierge building, residents can expect an unparalleled level of comfort and service in these new condominium homes. High-end designer finishes, an inviting roof terrace, club room, fitness studio, and underground garage parking are just a few of the thoughtfully-designed amenities. This 61-unit signature building is just steps from a short train or ferry ride into Boston. BRIX was developed jointly by Urban Spaces and Diamond Sinacori, and is expected to be ready for occupancy in Summer 2021…
August 7, 2020 The New England Real Estate Journal
Cambridge, MA Tocci Building Corp. and client Urban Spaces completed the topping off of Kendall East. Designed by architectural firm Perkins Eastman, this two-building, mixed-use development will feature 211,000 s/f of both residential units and retail space. The project program includes 136 residential units, an expansive half-acre greenspace connecting the two buildings, and two levels of below-grade parking including 142 parking spaces and 159 bicycle spaces.
The work leading to this milestone event involved the demolition of several connected commercial buildings, two stories of below-grade excavation, the pouring of concrete foundations and, like many development projects in the area, navigating through the construction moratorium and other challenges related to COVID-19…
Spring 2020 The DDC Journal
Cambridge, MA One of East Cambridge’s bustling corridors is poised to become even more attractive to shoppers and those looking for a new apartment home.
A $95 million undertaking known as Kendall East is giving real estate development firm Urban Spaces the opportunity to bolster the area with a new mixed-use development along the popular First Street thoroughfare. The project, located on the site of the firm’s former headquarters, will feature 136 residential units and nearly 15,000 square feet of street-level retail space just across from the one million square-foot CambridgeSide shopping destination…
February 21, 2020 The Salem News
Salem, MA A city once recognized pretty much for its history and lore alone, Salem has in recent years become THE residential hot spot on the North Shore. Affording single and multi-family homes, sleek condominium conversions and just about everything in between, the choices have been plentiful. However, not until now have home buyers had an opportunity quite like this.
A high-end condominium community with an “ultra-urban” flair, “BRIX” will offer 61 one, two and three bedroom units including three heightened penthouses. Sales by MerryFox Realty of Salem and marketing by Charlesgate Realty Group of Boston, this very exciting venture is a collaboration by Boston/Cambridge developers Paul Ognibene of Urban Spaces, LLC and Merrill Diamond of Diamond Sinacori, LLC…
February 19, 2020 Banker & Tradesman
Cambridge, MA A Montessori-inspired daycare center will occupy the entire first floor of The Rand, a condominium development by Cambridge-based Urban Spaces and StoneRiver Properties.
Rock and Roll Daycare leased 3,500 square feet for its music-infused program for infants, toddler and preschool at the condo complex located at 1975 Massachusetts Ave. in Porter Square…
October 14, 2019 The Real Reporter
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces recently completed the sale of the newly constructed 10,000 square foot, fully-leased retail building to 12 Jayne Road, LLC for $11.2 million, or $1,120 per square foot. The building, located 85-95 First Street, was completed in June of 2019, with 4,600 SF of space pre-leased to specialty pet food and supply store Loyal Companion. Paint supply store Sherwin-Williams will lease 2,900 SF when it relocates from its previous location at 73 First Street, and an undisclosed tenant will lease the remaining 2,500 SF upon finalizing negotiations. The trade of the retail building was brokered by the Dedham based Conviser Property Group.
85-95 First Street is the third component of Urban’s $275 million investment in the First Street Corridor. The full development will be comprised of over 250 apartments, 50,000 SF of office, 45,000 SF of retail space, and a 23,000 SF of green space upon completion. Urban Spaces completed 121 First Street, a 60,000 SF, five-story, mixed use office/retail building in December of 2018, leasing the entire 50,000 SF office portion to CarGurus, the online automotive research platform and marketplace…”
September 23, 2019 The Real Reporter
Salem, MA The joint venture of Urban Spaces and Diamond Sinacori held a groundbreaking ceremony for BRIX, a 61-unit, mixed-use condominium development in the heart of downtown Salem. Salem’s first concierge building, BRIX will provide downtown Salem with sophisticated urban residences and 3,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space. Located at 65 Washington Street, BRIX is a short walk from the Salem Commuter Rail Station into Boston and just steps from the shops, restaurants, and museums of the picturesque Federal Street District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“We’re excited that the former Salem District courthouse will be replaced with a signature, mixed-use building,” said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll at Friday’s ceremony. “BRIX will bring much needed housing downtown – some affordable, some market-rate, some new commercial space. This building will be part of our community’s on-going effort to transform the northern part of our downtown to better serve as a welcoming entryway to Salem. It will really make a difference and I am thrilled to see this work starting today…”
September 25, 2019 Banker and Tradesman
Salem, MA Two developers are teaming up to bring a $20 million condominium project to downtown Salem, replacing a Brutalist-style courthouse with 61 units of market-rate and affordable housing.
The joint venture between Cambridge-based Urban Spaces and development firm Diamond Sinacori has begun work on the BRIX project, designed by Newton-based Tise Design Assoc. and built by Salem-based Groom Construction. The 110,000-square-foot complex at 65 Washington St. will contain units ranging from 800 to 1,700 square feet, with prices starting in the mid-$400,000 range, developers said…
August 28, 2019 Boston Real Estate Times
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces, a Cambridge-based real estate development company focusing on mid-sized, transit-oriented projects, announced that it has finalized a $71 million construction loan with People’s United Bank for Kendall East, a mixed-use, two-building property comprised of 120 market-rate and 16 affordable apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail located in the First Street Corridor, the one mile stretch between Kendall Square and the Lechmere MBTA station.
The site includes surface parking spaces to support the retail and a two-level underground garage with 142 parking and 159 bicycle spaces. An expansive half-acre courtyard will join the parcels, providing green space and seating for the neighborhood. Located across from CambridgeSide, the shopping center slated for redevelopment by adding office, lab, and residential space, Kendall East is within a short walk to Kendall Square, Lechmere Station, and Cambridge Crossing…
May 20, 2019 The Real Reporter
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces, the Cambridge-based real estate development company has signed pet supply retailer, Loyal Companion to a 4,000 SF lease at 95 First Street in East Cambridge. The store is the first retail tenant signed to the First Street Corridor, a $275 million mixed-use project designed to reinvigorate the neighborhood that connects Lechmere Station and Kendall Square.
Loyal Companion will be meeting the demand for pet supplies and services after by the closing of Petco, which decided to not renew their lease at 119 First Street following passage by the Cambridge City Council of an ordinance prohibiting the retail sale of commercially bred animals. Loyal Companion offers high-quality food and supplies, as well as on-premise grooming, training, daycare, and self-wash…
May 22, 2019 Cambridge Day
Cambridge, MA The developer remaking First Street has signed a lease with a pet store – essentially replacing a Petco that closed in January 2018.
Loyal Companion, a pet food and supply store, has signed a 4,000-square-foot lease at 95 First St., East Cambridge, becoming the the first retail tenant known to be coming to the $275 million “First Street Corridor,” a mixed-use project connecting Lechmere Station and Kendall Square, Cambridge-based developer Urban Spaces said Tuesday.
The retail space is expected to be ready for occupancy by the spring, Urban Spaces said…
April 17, 2019 Boston Real Estate Times
Waltham, MA There is a sea change underway in the world of multifamily development, as increasing land and construction costs and a heightened focus on amenities are impacting the way that developers are building and repositioning properties.
Earlier this month, the Boston Real Estate Times assembled a panel of prominent developers for the Boston Multifamily Growth & Development Summit to provide insight into how they are responding to the changing landscape. Held at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA the panel was moderated by Real Estate Times publisher, Upendra Mishra, and included Paul Ognibene, CEO of Urban Spaces, Shannon Earley, regional manager of Princeton Properties, and Richard Robinson, VP of acquisitions at John M. Corcoran & Company…
March 26, 2019 Cambridge Day
Cambridge, MA The developer Urban Spaces tore down its own former headquarters Monday to make room for its latest project along First Street in East Cambridge – a 136-unit, two-building apartment complex with 14,800 square feet of retail at its base.
The project, called Kendall East, is set to begin construction in April and be ready for renters in 2020 on parcels at 99-119 First St., 18 Hurley St. and 29 Charles St. The First Street location was a Petco and its parking lot, but now will be pet-friendly apartments, according to Urban Spaces. The two buildings will share a two-level underground garage with 142 parking and 159 bicycle spaces beneath a half-acre green space; another 23 surface parking spaces will be used for whatever retail moves in…
March 28, 2019 Boston.com
Cambridge, MA Cambridge-based developer Urban Spaces has a two-building luxury apartment complex in the works for Kendall Square.
The company is planning to start demolition work in early April at a site across from the CambridgeSide mall, including properties at 99-119 First St., 18 Hurley St., and 29 Charles St…
March 25, 2019 Banker and Tradesman
Cambridge, MA After attracting CarGurus as a tenant for a 50,000-square-foot speculative office building, Cambridge developer Urban Spaces is moving ahead with a 136-unit apartment complex in rapidly changing East Cambridge.
Known as Kendall East, the complex across from the Cambridgeside mall will begin next week with demolition of the existing connected office and retail buildings, which formerly were occupied by Petco and Urban Spaces’ headquarters. Construction will begin in April on the site which is bounded by First, Hurley and Charles street…
March 26, 2019 The Real Reporter
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces, the Cambridge-based commercial real estate
development company will begin demolition next week on its former headquarters to
make way for Kendall East, a mixed-use apartment complex comprised of 136 units
and 14,800 square feet of retail. The site, which encompasses 99-119 First Street, 18
Hurley Street, and 29 Charles Street, is located across from CambridgeSide, a mixeduse
one million square foot shopping center, located within a short walking distance
to Kendall Square, Lechmere Station, and Cambridge Crossing.
Designed by award-winning architectural firm Perkins Eastman, Kendall East is set to
begin demolition next week and begin construction of the new buildings in April…
December 12, 2018 The Real Reporter
Cambridge, MA After attracting CarGurus as a tenant for a 50,000-square-foot speculative office building, Cambridge developer Urban Spaces is moving ahead with a 136-unit apartment complex in rapidly changing East Cambridge.
Known as Kendall East, the complex across from the Cambridgeside mall will begin next week with demolition of the existing connected office and retail buildings, which formerly were occupied by Petco and Urban Spaces’ headquarters…
October 06, 2017 New England Real Estate Journal
Cambridge, MA Urban Spaces is underway with its newest development, 121 First St., in Kendall Sq. The speculative 62,100 s/f, $20 million mixed-use development is being built by Needham-based Nauset Construction. The building will feature 48,500 s/f of class A office space and 10,000 s/f of retail space in one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets. JLL is the exclusive leasing agent for Urban Spaces. A summer 2018 completion is anticipated…..
September 05, 2016 The Boston Globe
By Tim Logan
The new six-story building on Commonwealth Avenue wasn’t built to be a dorm. But during the last week, 180 Boston University students have moved in. The arrangement is part of a two-year deal BU made with the building’s developer to lease out the space as student housing. It’ll be like…
November 11, 2016 The Boston Globe
Located next to the Porter Square stop on the MBTA Red Line, the project includes 20 residential units with off-street parking and 5,000 sf of prime retail space.
By Tim Logan The new condominium building in Porter Square looks a lot like many other new condo buildings: Three floors of units above retail storefronts. And the prices — starting at $600,000 for a one-bedroom — are pretty typical for new construction in Cambridge. But…
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