Stevens Group Represents Pellion Technologies In 10,000 SF Office Lease

Boston, Commercial Real Estate, News, Tenant Representation

Founded in 1980, The Stevens Group is a Boston-based commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm with more than four decades of experience helping companies make informed real estate decisions. Today, our practice is centered on Corporate Real Estate Advisory & Tenant Representation, providing independent, conflict-free guidance to tenants and occupiers throughout Greater Boston and beyond.

We advise clients on site selection, negotiations for new leases, renewals, relocations, expansions, consolidations, and specialized office, R&D/lab, industrial and flex requirements. As the Boston affiliate of the International Tenant Representative Alliance (ITRA Global), we can also support clients across the U.S. and internationally while maintaining the senior- level, hands-on service of an independent firm.

The Stevens Group has been certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) since 2011 and is proud to celebrate 15 years of certification in 2026.

What inspired you to start your company, and what has shaped your journey woman business owner in CRE?

The Stevens Group was founded by my parents, Mark and Debra Stevens, in 1980, and I joined the firm in 2013. My mother had a remarkable career in commercial real estate and showed me firsthand what was possible for a woman in the industry, while my father was an equally important mentor and supporter. Since Debra’s passing last year, carrying forward what they built has taken on added meaning. I am proud of our history and committed to positioning The Stevens Group for the future while preserving the integrity, reputation, and client focus that define us.

What are you most proud of about the company you’ve built?

I am most proud of the trust we have earned and the long-standing relationships we have built with clients over more than four decades. Our size and independence allow us to stay closely involved, be responsive, and give objective advice. I also value that we have continued to evolve and stay current while remaining true to how we do business.

Celebrating 15 years as a certified women business enterprise is another milestone I am especially proud of.

What are you most excited about for your company and its future?

I am excited to continue expanding the ways we support clients as their real estate needs become more complex. We have the advantage of being nimble, experienced, and highly personal in our approach, while our ITRA Global affiliation gives clients broader reach when they need it. I see the next chapter as thoughtful growth, interesting assignments, and continuing to strengthen our reputation as a trusted advisor to corporate occupiers.

What does being a woman-owned business mean to you, and what perspective would you share with women considering starting a business of their own?

Being a woman-owned business is meaningful to me because it reflects how far opportunities for women in commercial real estate have come. CRE Brokerage is a demanding career, but I believe women can build successful businesses and careers in this industry without having to choose between professional growth and the other priorities in their lives. My advice is to seek out strong mentors and advisors, trust your expertise and create a culture that values high performance and flexibility. The right environment can make a meaningful difference in sustaining a rewarding career over time.

FOUNDED: 1980

HEADQUARTERS: Boston, MA

SPECIALTIES: Corporate Real Estate Advisory & Tenant Representation; Office, R&D/Lab, Industrial & Flex Requirements

MARKETS SERVED: Greater Boston/Massachusetts; and national and international supportand consulting

WOMAN-OWNED SINCE: 2011

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The Real Reporter – Joe Clements

October 2010

CAMBRIDGE — Hard-charging Pellion Technologies, an MIT-bred launch focused on the emerging battery industry, has given a welcomed jolt to 625 Mount Auburn St., the longtime headquarters of Star Market now available as multi-tenanted office and research use. Owner KBS Real Estate Advisors has secured Pellion for nearly 10,000 sf in the 133,000-sf building that sits midway between Harvard and Watertown Squares.

Deb's Photo “It’s really nice,” says broker Debra Stevens of the asset’s repositioning, one that has already yielded results even prior to the Pellion pact. The Stevens Group principal counseled Pellion in a space search that mulled alternatives throughout Boston and Cambridge before KBS and listing agent CBRE/New England “wowed” the prospect with an offer at 625 Mount Auburn St. that met both physical and fiscal requirements. “They did a really great job of presenting the building,” says Stevens. CBRE principal Robert Fitzgerald and Associate Adam Brinch were brokers for the landlord.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to CBRE/NE’s third quarter survey released this week, asking rents are at $35.52 per sf for office space in the mid-Cambridge submarket, although 625 Mount Auburn St. is on the fringe of that 2.0-million-sf block that is centered in Harvard Square.

According to Stevens, however, the property makes up for that by being on a major corridor of MBTA buses that run constantly between Belmont and Watertown direct to Harvard Sq., itself a mere 20 minute walkaway. Bicycles are also expected to be utilized by Pellion staff, adds Stevens, with 625 Mount Auburn St. offering the on-site amenities needed to accommodate such occupants, including bike racks, locker rooms and shower facilities.

Now inked, the Pellion lease follows up on a strong third quarter for Cambridge, according to market watchers. Perhaps fueled by the brisk leasing at 625 Mount Auburn St., mid-Cambridge posted 46,000 sf in positive net absorption during the third quarter, CBRE/NE reports. That dipped the vacancy rate to a scant 6.5 percent, well below the 11.2 percent figure for Cambridge overall and the 11.1 million sf tracked by CBRE/NE.

Among notable tenants signed this summer by KBS were Mount Auburn Hospital and HDS Architects, plus a renewal with Charles River Associates that included an expansion to 30,000 sf on the top level of the three-story structure. According to Stevens, Pellion principals were encouraged by the diversity of the tenant roster and the sense of collaboration similar to that found at their prior home in the midst of the MIT campus a few miles east.

“There are some great things going on” at 625 Mount St., says Stevens. California based KBS acquired the building in Jan. 2007 for $29.6 million.