Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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HAUTE PROPERTY Evan Papanastasiou will broker the new FiDi Luxury Lofts. continued from page 125 Of course to become a true neighborhood, the Financial District needs to be an attractive place for locals to actually live. And in that regard, the country's recent economic woes have actually presented the city with a tremendous opportunity. A spate of commercial vacancies—some the result of corporate cost-cutting, others due to businesses relocating to affordable and spacious Seaport digs—has drawn the interest of resi- dential developers. ings were Northeast "Class C commercial office build- the hardest hit," Real says Estate Group's Andrew Haddad of the drop in com- mercial occupancies in small downtown buildings. He and partner Evan Papanastasiou jumped at the "Where else can you get that?" chance to oversee the renovations and marketing for an office building at Broad and Batterymarch Streets as it was converted into a boutique collec- tion of two-bedroom, two-bath rentals: FiDi Luxury Lofts. Following a gut renovation of five floors, the apartments now feature granite kitch- ens, high ceilings, and layouts geared toward young professionals "who want to live where they work," says Papanastasiou, as well as experience the vibe of an emerging neighborhood that's still steeped in a sense of history. The nearby Ames hotel, for instance, was Boston's first skyscraper. The FiDi Luxury Lofts' relatively diminutive size (just 15 units) is a sharp contrast to nearby developments like The Lofts at Atlantic Wharf, the turn-of-the-century Peabody & Stearns Atlantic Building that now contains 86 high-end residences; and the Broadluxe Lofts, a posh 44-unit condo and apartment development, fea- turing lofts with private outdoor spaces. "We want people to feel like they're coming home," explains Papanastasiou. "It's in the middle of everything, but it's private." Of course, there's more to a home than what's between the brick walls. Part of what's making the scene possible is activity in the restaurant scene. The Atlantic Building now houses the popular restaurants Trade (from Rialto chef/owner Jody Adams) and a Smith & Wollensky steakhouse. The blocks surrounding FiDi Luxury Lofts are undergoing changes, too—an upscale pub is has incredible views of Liberty and Post Office Squares. FiDi Luxury Lofts slated to open on the opposite corner in early 2013, and a yet-to-be-determined restaurant will also occupy the loft building's own first floor. "It's all coming together," says Haddad of the for- merly disparate Financial District and Waterfront neighborhoods. "The key is encouraging local businesses to keep longer hours and weekend hours, and getting people to experience the neigh- borhood that this is becoming. This new group of residents are going to be a part of that." BC 126 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM AROUND FIDI Commercial to residential conversions are prime picks in the Financial District. 199 State St., No. 401 2 bedroom, 2 bath 2,500 square feet $8,500 per month Contact: Craig Ann Lake, Luxury Residential Group, 917-655-4160 The Lofts at Atlantic Wharf, No. 307 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1,110 square feet $4,575 per month Contact: 617-396-7347 Folio Boston, No. PH1102 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath 1,664 square feet For sale: $1,059,000 Contact: Nancy Kueny, Gibson Sotheby's, 617-697-9819 INSIGHT FiDi Luxury Lofts Number of Units: 15 Unit Size: 910 to 1,226 square feet Price: $3,200 to $4,000 per month Contact: Evan Papanastasiou, 978-317-5794, or Andrew Haddad, 508-889-5962 As lofts go, the FiDi units are more polished than industrial, fea- turing oversize arched windows. Unit B on each floor boasts show- stopping views of Liberty and Post Office Squares. "Last week we saw a horse-drawn buggy coming down the street," says Papanastasiou. The 11th-floor penthouse for sale in the Folio Boston building. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY RYAN (FIDI LUXURY LOFTS); COURTESY OF GIBSON SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY (FOLIO BOSTON)