2008 Woodie Awards
West-side properties put up for sale ahead of schedule
Heather Johnson
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: News
Emerson's west-side properties, the college's last remaining Back Bay brownstones, have been placed on the market sooner than originally estimated and are expected to sell as early as this summer.
Initially, David Rosen, vice president of public affairs, stated in the fall that the buildings, which include the Student Union at 96 Beacon St. and dormitories at 6 Arlington St., 100 Beacon St. and 132-134 Beacon St., were slated to become available for bids in the spring.
Rosen said opening the buildings up to the market now is not cause for concern.
The sale will go to the bidder who offers the most money with the fewest stipulations. The profits from the sale of the west-side will go directly to the new Piano Row development, which Rosen said is expected to be completed and livable by the fall.
According to Rosen, the Emerson Board of Trustees flirted with the idea of selling the west-side buildings 14 years ago. Plans to sell the brownstones were cemented when Piano Row construction was announced in 2001. The facilities, which will include dormitories and a gymnasium, will be located at 150 Boylston St. and are expected to open in September.
The City of Boston's Assessing Department appraised the west-side buildings at $19,861,300.
It is not known what will become of the Back Bay buildings when they are sold.
According to Rosen, there was once discussion about keeping 6 Arlington St. and converting it into apartments for junior faculty, but that plan never came to fruition.
Many students interviewed said they enjoy the west campus buildings and do not want to see them sold.
Jackie Noblett, a resident of 132-134 Beacon St. said that she enjoys the view of the Charles River from her room.
"I actually feel like I'm living in Boston instead of a dorm," said Noblett, a junior print journalism major.
Senior writing, literature and publishing major Nick Fox lived at 100 Beacon St. when he was a freshman and also said he disagrees with the decision to sell the facilities.
Initially, David Rosen, vice president of public affairs, stated in the fall that the buildings, which include the Student Union at 96 Beacon St. and dormitories at 6 Arlington St., 100 Beacon St. and 132-134 Beacon St., were slated to become available for bids in the spring.
Rosen said opening the buildings up to the market now is not cause for concern.
The sale will go to the bidder who offers the most money with the fewest stipulations. The profits from the sale of the west-side will go directly to the new Piano Row development, which Rosen said is expected to be completed and livable by the fall.
According to Rosen, the Emerson Board of Trustees flirted with the idea of selling the west-side buildings 14 years ago. Plans to sell the brownstones were cemented when Piano Row construction was announced in 2001. The facilities, which will include dormitories and a gymnasium, will be located at 150 Boylston St. and are expected to open in September.
The City of Boston's Assessing Department appraised the west-side buildings at $19,861,300.
It is not known what will become of the Back Bay buildings when they are sold.
According to Rosen, there was once discussion about keeping 6 Arlington St. and converting it into apartments for junior faculty, but that plan never came to fruition.
Many students interviewed said they enjoy the west campus buildings and do not want to see them sold.
Jackie Noblett, a resident of 132-134 Beacon St. said that she enjoys the view of the Charles River from her room.
"I actually feel like I'm living in Boston instead of a dorm," said Noblett, a junior print journalism major.
Senior writing, literature and publishing major Nick Fox lived at 100 Beacon St. when he was a freshman and also said he disagrees with the decision to sell the facilities.
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