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BRA leases space in China Trade Center to International Institute of New England for new headquarters and training center

Apr 29, 2016

Last week the International Institute of New England (IINE) officially inked a lease for 13,676 square feet at 2 Boylston Street for its new headquarters and Boston area training center. The property, owned by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is also known as the China Trade Center.

“We’re eager to welcome IINE to the China Trade Center, and I thank the organization for selecting this great location as its new home,” said Brian Golden, Director of the BRA. “It truly is a wonderful match to have IINE, with its longstanding mission and record of providing support to new Americans, take up roots in one of Boston’s proud immigrant communities.”

IINE is a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts with site offices located in Boston, Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire. The Institute’s mission is to invest in the future of our cities and towns by helping refugees and immigrants become active participants in the social, political, and economic richness of American life.

In a separate press release, the organization noted that they were interested in the new location primarily because of its access to the MBTA Orange and Silver Lines as well as MBTA buses routes. 

“With the majority of our clients and staff using public transportation, finding a location adjacent to MBTA access was crucial.  Being part of Chinatown and the local Asian community is a terrific added benefit. IINE looks forward to working with local organizations and residents to assist them with job training and English opportunities,” said Jeffrey Thielman, President of IINE.

The BRA has invested over $2 million in recent years to upgrade the China Trade Center in order to attract new tenants. The building’s common area lighting, temperature controls, and fire alarm systems have all been enhanced. In the coming months, the lobby and stairs will be renovated, and the building’s heating and cooling systems, which date back to 1983, will be replaced.

“2016 will be a very busy year at the building as all floors will be undergoing tenant buildout simultaneously. The dust should settle in early 2017 when the construction is complete and tenants can get down to their business,” noted Dennis Davis, Deputy Director of Industrial Development and Commercial Leasing at the BRA.

Davis went on to add that, “IINE is the first of three pending leases which should create tenancy on floors two through six, virtually bringing the building to full occupancy without requiring any of the current small tenants to vacate. We are pleased that Trade Center Dental, Chinatown Main Streets, Echo Beauty Hair Salon, and other neighborhood not-for profits have been accommodated in the building.”
 
The leasing of the China Trade Center represents more progress for the BRA, as the agency has redoubled efforts to optimize its real estate portfolio in order to generate revenue that supports operations and community planning activities. Last year, the BRA came to tentative agreements with developers for three substantial parcels in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park, which are slated to become a hotel, an office building, and the new headquarters for a local commercial plumbing and HVAC company.

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