<!-- end javascript to email the article -->  By Greg Turner, Boston Herald McClatchy-Tribune Information Services Dec. 21--Greater Boston's office market is wrapping up its best year since 2007, driven by strong leasing demand in the Financial and Seaport districts, a new industry report shows. Tenants gobbled up 2.6 million square feet of space in 2012, the most in five years, and the vacancy rate has ticked down to 14.4 percent, from nearly 15 percent, according to real estate advisory firm Richards Barry Joyce Partners. "That's true Continue reading >>>

With Christmas only four days away, the Globe Santa program, in its 56th year delivering toys, books, and games to children, has received $700,000 to provide presents to 49,000 young people throughout the Greater Boston area. That’s a hefty sum, especially in a weak economy, but it’s only half of the $1.4 million needed to fully cover gifts for the 28,000 families who appealed for help this year. In the depths of the financial crisis, donations to the program actually spiked. That says something about Bostonians. This year, there is still time for donations to catch up. The unusual thing about Continue reading >>>

If you live in Greater Boston and like pizza, chances are you've had a slice at Upper Crust. What appeared to be a franchise on the rise filed for bankruptcy protection in October after ownership disputes, and allegations of exploitation by employees. Ten of the Upper Crust locations in Greater Boston went on the auction block on Wednesday- and one of the winning bidders was the attorney who filed a class-action suit against the chain for allegedly seizing  back wages from employees. Boston Public Radio spoke with attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan on Thursday.  GUESTS: Shannon Liss-Riordan: partner Continue reading >>>

The heavyweight fight for the state’s most lucrative casino ­license is back on. After failing to win local support for a casino in Foxborough, Las Vegas casino giant Wynn ­Resorts signed an option Wednesday to buy land on the Mystic River in Everett, known as the former Monsanto Chemical Co. site, where developer Steve Wynn ­intends to build an urban gambling resort on the water, Wynn executives have confirmed. Wynn’s reentry into the sweepstakes for the sole Greater Boston resort casino license puts him in direct competition with Suffolk Downs, which has proposed a ­casino resort at Continue reading >>>

By Mark Arsenault, Globe Staff The heavyweight fight for the state’s most lucrative casino license is back on. After failing to win local support for a casino in Foxborough, Las Vegas casino giant Wynn Resorts on Wednesday signed an option to buy land on the Mystic River in Everett, known as the former Monsanto Chemical Co. site, where developer Steve Wynn intends to build an urban gambling resort on the water, Wynn executives have confirmed. Wynn’s reentry into the sweepstakes for the sole Greater Boston resort casino license puts him in direct competition with Suffolk Continue reading >>>

The Boston Globe and CBS Boston’s WBZ-TV today announced a collaboration that combines the power of two news organizations with a long tradition of excellence covering Greater Boston and New England. Beginning today, The Globe and WBZ-TV will showcase exclusive, breaking news, and video on television, in print, and on the web. “This collaboration will further allow The Boston Globe and WBZ-TV News to deliver the most comprehensive news and information across platforms to better serve consumers when, where, and how they want content,” said Mark Lund, President and General Manager of Continue reading >>>

This demographic shift will affect housing demand dramatically in Massachusetts and especially Greater Boston.  Many of us older folks will wish to “age in place” where we have lived for decades but move from the suburban three and four bedroom homes where we raised our families to apartment and condo developments that are right-sized for us, allow us to use our cars less to go to Starbucks or the grocery store, and have plenty of amenities – especially elevators.  What we know about the millenials is that they are starting families later, want to live near work, hate to commute, and Continue reading >>>

Larry D. “Mr. Boston” Meehan of Needham, vice president of media and tourism sales for the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, died Saturday at home after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.Mr. Meehan was 60.Born and raised in Newton, Mr. Meehan attended Boston University and the Boston Architectural School. He became vice president of media and tourism sales for the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau as part of a 30-year career promoting Boston and its attractions to film crews, travel writers and tour companies from and around the globe.One of the founding Continue reading >>>

Julie M. Donnelly Reporter- Boston Business Journal Email  | Twitter The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has announced it is one of 25 founding members of a national business coalition called “Business for Skilled Worker Immigration,” which seeks to overhaul immigration law for skilled workers in order to drive job creation. The local startup community has recently been working to raise awareness Continue reading >>>

Survey says vacancies in Greater Boston’s lab space fell below 10 percent in the third quarter.    Thomas Grillo Real Estate Editor- Boston Business Journal Email  | Twitter Greater Boston’s lab space has continued a streak of strong results, with market-wide vacancies Continue reading >>>