Hey, there! Log in / Register
Downtown Crossing to remain Downtown Crossing
By adamg on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 2:39pm
Mayor Menino and downtown merchants met today to discuss setting up a business improvement district that would levy fees on merchants to improve and market the area.
But one thing they won't be doing: Changing the name. Although a consultant recommended that a few years back, the Downtown Crossing Partnership reports:
We decided to keep the name. It is rich in history and very representative of the area.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
wow, there is alot of white
wow, there is alot of white going on on that twitter page
Taxation without representation?
I think the goals of the business improvement district are great, but don't they amount to taxation without representation? You MUST pay a levy to pay for the district, but the money goes to a private organization. I sincerely worry about forcing support of a private organization which does not have the same restrictions/accountability/transparency requirements that government bodies do.
Although in theory there's some representation on the BID committee, reps will likely end up being from the largest property owners, and the mayor's office of course, who can control the board. The real trouble is basically the area off of Washington Street in what tries to be a shopping district, but the district includes buildings down by South Station and Post office square whose visitors/workers probably never head up to Downtown Crossing, which, I believe, was a name invented at some point in the late 80's when the T changed the name. It used to just be called Washington St.
IIRC, the Downtown Crossing name was
created when they closed off part of Washington Street to vehicle traffic in the mid-1970s. The T changed the name of the station some time later.
Late 70s, actually
Apparently around 1978; the station's name was changed in 1985. So "rich in history" means a business developer's invention of a little over 30 years ago.
Not an issue
They have these in cities all over the country. Many are very succesful - e.g. DC's "Golden Triangle."
I think it just needs new merchants
Too many chain stores and chain restaurants. Department stores you can find in every mall, a Starbucks on every corner, some nice sandwich shops and plenty of places to fill my contact lens prescription. The old Filene's Basement was kind of the last "destination" store. I'd like to see some cool bars/restaurants (if the city can cough up the liquor licenses) and some boutique clothing stores like you find in the Back Bay/South End. That way people from the suburbs would have a reason make the trek in, tourists could do their shopping right along the Freedom Trail instead of Newbury St, and people like me would stick around after work for drinks/dinner.
The safety issue to me seems like mostly a problem of perception. I don't have any statistics, only my experience of working here for five years, but I've never felt unsafe. I love the mix of people -- high school and college kids, working professionals, tourists speaking languages I can't even identify. Maybe the marketing campaign should focus on.