BOSTON-For a pretty impressive five quarters now, the Bostonoffice market has experienced positive growth,according to Richards Barry Joyce & Partners’senior vice president of research, Brendan Carroll. And it seemsthe firm’s most recent OfficeSTATus report indicates that thispositive commercial real estate trend willcontinue. The area continues to attract major companies and tolease up space.

In the past quarter, the report reveals that the number ofproperties that gained tenants in the market outnumbered thoseproperties that lost tenants: 16% gained occupancy and 13% sawoccupancy decrease. Carroll opines, “It’s the continuation ofa trend we’ve been seeing from 5 quarters ago - of positive andorganic growth. “ And why? “the area’s value proposition haslargely been the same for decades: skilled labor force, world classeducation, topographical desirability and, in a way, the knowledgeeconomy.” These factors are attracting and should continue toattract big lease signings to the area. For instance, Google“recognizes” the world of taking space in Cambridge – right nearHarvard, and MIT to name but two – and the coffee giant Keurigrecently signed up for significant space in Burlington,Massachusetts. Carroll says this company’s decision is “basicallythe example of a business that has been successful locally and withnew technology.” The move points to “significant expansion,[and]new construction in the market.”

Also of note is the fact that local class Aoffice rent growth slowed to a 0.3 % a 0.3 percentannualized rate after having grown at a 5.2 percent rate in thepreceding two years, a fact about which Carroll does not expressmuch concern.