The Real Reporter – Joe Clements

September 2010

BOSTON MA – After a decade in the South End, a growing voice recognition company has moved over to the Hub’s eclectic Back Bay district, taking down 2,500 sf at 607 Boylston St. Debra Stevens of ITRA/Stevens Group represented Plum Voice in negotiating terms with the landlord, 607 Boylston Associates, an entity owned by developer Stuart Pratt that was represented by NAI Hunneman Commercial Co. SVP Chris Gotfredson and StuartPratt Jr.

“We are very pleased with how everything turned out,” says Plum Voice principal Andrew Kuan. “The space is really beautiful and you couldn’t ask for a more centralized location.” The sixth-floor office provides views of the Boston Public Library, Copley Square and the historic Old South Church, he notes, while a Green Line subway station next door met the firm’s criteria to be near public transportation. “That was one of our big issues,” relays Kuan, as was a desire by employees to be amidst plentiful shopping and dining venues. “The food options are outstanding,” he says.

Plum Voice did consider properties in Downtown Crossing and Fort Point Channel, but Kuan says there was not enough of an office component in Downtown Crossing and not enough of anything in Fort Point Channel. “It’s really dead over there,” he relays.

Comparatively speaking, the Back Bay is a beehive of activity, he says, with the residential base and retail anchored by Newbury Street around the corner from his firm’s new headquarters helping to accentuate the office inventory that now exceeds 12 million sf. Business-to-business opportunities should also be enhanced, he adds, which will enable Plum Voice to build upon the growth spurt that prompted the need for new space initially. “We’ve been falling all over each other,” says Kuan, whereas the expansion to double the elbow room will enable the firm to add people and still have adequate facilities.

Kuan also credits 607 Boylston Associates for offering a viable rate and the open-floor layout Plum Voice was desiring. “The landlord was very good to us,” he says, while also praising Stevens for fulfilling the firm’s requirements. “We were new to the (space search) process, so having someone experienced who could walk us through everything was very helpful,” he says. “She gave us some real perspective and made sure there weren’t any contractual issues that would be a problem for us later on.”