Boston, MA

What my daily Diet Coke fix says about downtown Boston right now – The Boston Globe

Published

2 years ago

June 11, 2023

What my daily Diet Coke fix says about downtown Boston right now – The Boston Globe

These days, finding a convenience store is not so convenient in Boston’s Central Business District. I started to worry c-stores, newsstands, and variety shops might go the way of City Sports and taxi stands.

So I rang up Michael Nichols, who as president of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District, faces the tough task of rejuvenating 34 COVID-stricken blocks spanning Downtown Crossing and much of the Financial District. He’s enthusiastic, and relatively new in the job. And he’ll need all the enthusiasm he can muster.

Consider the stats. Nichols counts 90 to 100 empty storefronts scattered throughout the BID area — three to four times as many as before COVID. That does not include the quieter stretch between Post Office Square and the Rose Kennedy Greenway, where there are many additional retail vacancies. There’s plenty of empty space upstairs, too. Real estate brokerage Colliers reports a record-high downtown office vacancy rate of 23 percent and rising.

An empty storefront on Winter Street in downtown Boston. Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Many downtown denizens have a favorite tailor, clothier or cobbler — with personalized service and a pay-me-back-whenever attitude. Those folks are struggling, if they haven’t packed up and left already. Many employers have shrunk their office footprints amid the lingering popularity of hybrid work. Three-plus years after the Great Exodus, most office towers remain about half-full on a given weekday (and much less on Fridays). The businesses that relied heavily on the daily ebb and flow of office workers suffer the most.

Unfortunately for soda addicts like me, this means fewer places to get a 20-ounce bottle of Atlanta’s finest. Nichols still counts 18 c-stores among the BID’s 34 blocks, including four chain drugstores. He says the number has dropped from at least 24 in 2019.

These vacancies vex business leaders — and not because it’s harder to find a midday soda or snack. They worry about how the decline in office workers contributes to the perception that downtown has become less safe than it was before the pandemic (city officials provided crime stats that show that’s not the case) and about the long-term economic and financial harm to the city if buildings become empty shells and their tax valuations fall. The dysfunctional T doesn’t help.

Weekly foot traffic in the BID is still down about a third from pre-pandemic levels. But Nichols qualifies this as evidence of a solid recovery — one driven by tourists as well as locals visiting restaurants, bars, and theaters. That said, he won’t be satisfied until pre-pandemic levels return.

How to get there?

One frequently discussed option: make downtown a 24/7 neighborhood. Live, work, play, and all that. But renovating offices for residential use isn’t easy. There’s a reason no downtown developer has publicly proposed such a renovation recently, despite the clear desire in City Hall. The size of a building’s floors needs to be relatively small, to meet window and plumbing requirements. A building should be on the older side, so it’s financially feasible to tear apart interiors. Architecture firm Gensler recently estimated that 12 percent of downtown Boston buildings could work for residences, while brokerage Avison Young estimated the number could be substantially higher. Regardless, no one seems to be biting yet — though Nichols just heard about one modest conversion that could be moving forward.

Pedestrians pass a vacant Washington Street storefront in downtown Boston. Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Nichols said he thinks public incentives will be necessary to make the economics work for these kinds of projects. Maybe the city can drop affordable housing requirements, he said, or provide financial support such as tax relief. City Hall has set aside significant federal relief funds for housing production, although none of it is earmarked for office conversions, and has both a downtown rezoning effort and an office conversion study underway.

Segun Idowu, Mayor Michelle Wu’s economic development chief, says everything is on the table right now. While City Council President Ed Flynn is pushing colleagues to set an example and return to fully in-person meetings, city officials know they can’t rely on commuters alone to revive downtown. The Wu administration this month is expected to announce the first winners in a new storefront revitalization grant program, known as SPACE, that drew more than 350 applicants seeking to occupy empty shops around the city. Expect awards of up to $200,000 for 25 to 30 businesses, Idowu said, with up to 10 of them in or around the downtown area.

Nichols has added economic development to the BID’s traditional roles of marketing and street-cleaning. This started with its “3rd Space” project, turning an empty storefront at 101 Arch St. into a temporary art gallery and event space. The experiment appeared to work: A paying tenant has signed a letter of intent to move in. So Nichols will try something similar at other properties, and is exploring a legal structure that could offer tax deductions to landlords who donate ground-floor spaces. Nichols has been busy recruiting — showing a day care provider around on Federal Street, or walking a salon owner through a space on Tremont. BID staff also prodded entrepreneurs to apply for SPACE funds to occupy downtown spots, and helped them through the process. And Nichols just got a vote of confidence last Wednesday when BID members voted unanimously to extend the special taxing district for another five years.

Nichols already sees encouraging signs: the restaurant row that emerged along Temple Place, the popular High Street Place food hall. Hospitality and nightclub groups, he said, are eyeing at least two prominent downtown vacancies as the Wu administration presses for a more vibrant “late night economy.”

The BID’s recruiting focuses on certain types of businesses: bookstores, nonprofit-run retailers, specialty grocers, art galleries and studios, locally owned clothing and coffee shops. Convenience stores aren’t on the list, nor are many other uses that cater to office commuters.

As I wander a few blocks further for my late-afternoon dose of caffeine, I might grumble a bit. But maybe this place became too reliant on the office crowd even before COVID hit. The new Downtown Boston, it turns out, will need to be something different from the old one.

A notice taped to the door informs passersby that the 7-Eleven on State Street is closed. Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Jon Chesto can be reached at jon.chesto@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonchesto.

Source link

Boston, MA

Magic Look to Bounce Back With More Energy at Celtics

Published

4 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Magic Look to Bounce Back With More Energy at Celtics

BOSTON – Over two weeks ago, after the Orlando Magic’s latest rally fell short in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, fourth-year guard Jalen Suggs called out a worrying trend among his team in hopes of nipping it in the bud.

“We’re putting ourselves in these holes and spotting teams leads, then having to fight, scratch, claw just to get back in the game and give ourselves a chance,” Suggs said on New Year’s Day.

The Magic had developed a resilience that meant they were never out of games, no matter the score. Complimentary, energy-filled basketball helped Orlando do the fighting, scratching and clawing to get back into those games.

Did it always result in a victory? Not quite. But the relentless attitude and constant effort – especially for a team so handicapped by its shrinking list of healthy players – was commendable, and has been embedded in the Magic’s DNA.

In the rare occasions when it doesn’t show face, though, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley says it’s “glaring.” That was the case when the Milwaukee Bucks delivered a 29-point shellacking to Orlando, marking the most lopsided loss for the Magic this year.

“There was an energy and effort issue,” said Mosley postgame.

Wendell Carter Jr. would later say his team was “out-physicaled” and made life too easy for their opponent.

Then, in the locker room, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope told reporters Orlando got its “a– whooped,” and Paolo Banchero told reporters, “[A]s a group top to bottom, we’ve got to be more ready to play. We’re down a lot of bodies, but we can’t make excuses and we’ve just got to come out and play for each other.”

To Banchero’s point, the Magic’s 124 missed games from players due to injury or illness haven’t been a catch-all, safety-net excuse when the team is struggling. Instead, their aforementioned resilience built an identity that helped them generate results throughout the entire first half of the season, regardless of available contributors.

It justifies Mosley’s claims that the lackluster performance vs. the Bucks “wasn’t Orlando Magic basketball. Not even close.” Because although that was the case in Game 42, through the first 41 games, it wasn’t.

“It’s something that you can learn from, and you have to be able to bounce back, which this group has always done,” Mosley said.

With a national audience watching along, Orlando (0-4 in national TV games this season) pays its only visit to TD Garden Friday evening, squaring off with the defending champion Boston Celtics for the second of three matchups this season. The Magic host the 18-time champs once more in April to close the Kia Center’s regular season slate.

Boston has dropped three of their last five outings, including an uncharacteristic loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night in Scotiabank Arena. The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum due to a last-minute spat with an illness in the Magic’s Dec. 23 home win, but Orlando was shorthanded as well. Of their top four scorers, only Suggs was available.

“We beat them last time at home, so I’m sure they haven’t forgot that,” Paolo Banchero said in Orlando’s locker room Wednesday. “They have a hell of a home atmosphere [and] home crowd, so they’ll be ready to play in front of their fans.”

Heading into Friday’s tilt, where both teams are eager to wipe the slate clean from their mid-week malaise, Boston reports a clean bill of health. Now, only Banchero is available of the Magic’s top scorers, and other key reserves are unavailable as well.

MORE: Magic-Celtics Injury Report

Those who are available, however, say they shouldn’t have any issue getting back to their standard.

“Playing against teams like this is what hoopers get up for,” Anthony Black said. “Definitely getting up for this game. It’s always fun playing against some good hoopers, so I think we’re up and I think we’ll be ready to bring energy come game time.”

“You don’t like losing games, especially when you get your butt kicked,” Mosley said, “but you also have to know you have to bounce back, can’t hang your head, be ready to go and move on the next game.”

Follow ‘Orlando Magic on SI‘ on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also, bookmark our homepage so you never miss a story.

Source link

Boston, MA

How to Watch Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics on Friday, January 17

Published

12 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

How to Watch Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics on Friday, January 17

BOSTON – The Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics do battle for the second time this season Friday evening. Tipoff between the two Eastern Conference foes is at 7 p.m. ET from TD Garden.

Each team will be looking to bounce back after uncharacteristic losses. But, one team will be much healthier when attempting to do so.

On the front end of this chilly Northern road trip, the Magic handled by the Milwaukee Bucks by 29 points Wednesday night in Milwaukee. They’ll be without three of their top four scorers and five total rotational players in looking to wash the taste of that contest away.

Boston went north of the border to Toronto and dropped their Wednesday outing by 13 points. The Celtics report no injuries ahead of Friday’s bout.

Regarding this season’s series, Orlando (23-19) took the first matchup over Boston (28-12). Friday’s nationally televised matchup is the second of three this year between the two teams.

Who: Orlando Magic (23-19, 5th in East) at Boston Celtics (28-12, 2nd in East)
What: NBA Regular Season Game
When: Friday, January 17, 7 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Florida, NBCS Boston
Radio: 96.9 The Game, Orlando Magic Audio Network, SiriusXM
Point Spread: Milwaukee -6
Last Meeting: Orlando 108, Boston 104 on 12/23/24

Orlando Magic

Boston Celtics

Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic: Mosley tipped off his fourth NBA season as a head coach this season, all of which having come with the Magic. He’s 126-162 in the regular season all-time. Before Mosley was named the head coach of the Magic, he was an assistant with Dallas, Cleveland, and Denver. He’s a Colorado alum, and played four years of professional basketball in Mexico, Australia, Finland and South Korea.

Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics: Mazzulla, 36 years old, mans the sidelines for his third season as the Celtics’ coach this year. In each of his first two seasons, Boston finished atop the Eastern Conference. They hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy a historic 18th time this past June after his team cruised through the playoffs in just 19 games (16-3). Prior to taking over as head coach, the former West Virginia Mountaineer was an assistant on the Celtics bench for three seasons. He’s regarded as one of the brightest, young polarizing minds in the game. today

Source link

Boston, MA

State plans to overhaul the Arborway in Boston, remove rotary

Published

20 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

State plans to overhaul the Arborway in Boston, remove rotary

BOSTON — The Arborway is home to nature. The Arboretum along the road is no stranger to ponds and amphibians, so it’s fitting that crossing the street feels like a game of Frogger. The state has taken notice and has a proposal to overhaul the entire thoroughfare.

Neighbors hope for changes

“You are definitely taking your life in your own hands trying to cross this road. There are a lot of crashes right here because you have four lanes going into one,” said Ed Narenkivicius, a dog walker who’s lived here for 25 years. “The current model isn’t working, so hoping for anything with common sense.”

Out of the 13 intersections on the Arborway, only two are signaled, which means at 11 of them, pedestrians have to wait for the cars to stop to cross. With multiple lanes, people can be waiting a while or choose to risk it to run across.

“I don’t use a crosswalk that doesn’t have a signal, and the ones up here are just flashing yellow. I wait until cars stop,” said Narenkivicius.

“It is challenging at times. We have to dodge cars from time to time or wait,” said Heidi Blake, another neighbor out walking her dog. “As a driver, I have seen cars run into one another, and very dodgy entrances and exits.”

Blake is onto something. She’s lived here for 10 years, and studies back up her fears. Over the last five years, there have been more than 100 sideswipe crashes at both Murray and Kelley Circle.

Arborway changes — A proposal to remove a rotary on the Arborway in Jamaica Plain.

Mass. DCR

“You can see the sideswipe crashes are clustered and concentrated near the entrances and exits to the circle,” said Project Manager Teren Wong while showcasing data during a public meeting online.

Two traffic circles removed

In response, the state is working to overhaul the entire Arborway by doing away with both circles altogether. Bike and pedestrian lanes will be added, as well as reducing the number of pedestrian crossings. The ones that remain will be signaled. The proposal increases green space as well.

Many of the people we spoke with were in favor change, but skeptical of the current design. During the public meeting this week, one Pondside neighborhood resident worried the new design will make it difficult to access his street.

“You’ve got to think about this seriously, and you’ve got to resolve it because this is not going to stand,” the resident said.

The proposal is still being tweaked. They hope to have it finalized by 2026.

Mike Sullivan