The challenges faced by the Boston housing market have been well documented in 2020. The pandemic has caused massive shifts in urban population distribution in metropolitan areas all across the country, and Boston is no exception. It effectively took one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets and caused it to come to a grinding halt as apartment vacancies soar all over the city.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts tonight. It's normally a time to go to temple, where the new year is brought in with blasts from the shofar. but, of course, not this year. Several congregations in Brookline and Brighton have organized outdoor shofar blowings at 4 p.m. on Sunday (5 p.m. at Amory Park): Read more.
Who should shoulder the cost of rent for stores shuttered by Gov. Baker's shutdown of "non-essential" businesses in March due to Covid-19? In a suit filed this week, the Gap argues its Coolidge Corner landlord should eat the expense - and be made to suffer damages for not doing so. Read more.
Mark Smith watched the sun go down from Larz Anderson Park in Brookline today.
BostonTweet reports the end of the first Anna's, which opened in 1995 on Beacon Street at Summit Avenue in Brookline. Other locations remain open.
Travel New England spotted this pile crossing the Beacon Street trolley tracks at St. Paul Street today.
WBZ reports on the lawsuit by the family of Justin Root, fatallly shot in Chestnut Hill after threatening police with what turned out to be a fake gun outside Brigham and Women's Hospital. A valet was injured by a bullet shot at Root by an officer.
Complete complaint (3M PDF).
Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner reported tonight that at least 30 Brookline voters got the wrong ballots mailed to them for the Sept. 1 primary. Read more.
Brookline Police report that Larz Anderson Park will be open until 11 p.m. for the next few nights.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports that O'Leary's, 1010 Beacon St., has shut down, with Covid-19 not being the only reason, though.
Brookline school officials announced today they have sent notices of potential layoffs to teachers and staffers in an attempt to patch a $6.3-million hole in its budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 - but that it is still looking at ways to bring the workers back in time for the start of school this fall. Read more.
Brookline announced this morning it's going back to being a stern parking taskmaster, now that offices and stores are, even if slowly, re-opening. Read more.
Mandarin Gourmet, at the Putterham rotary, announced today it's re-opening Monday, for takeout only. It had closed last month for Covid-19 reasons.
The BC Heights reports.
H/t WIll Kilburn, who predicted this last week, although did Ye UHub listen?
Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner announced today the town has furloughed 95 more employees, bringing the total out of a job since the coronavirus crisis started in March to 196. Read more.
A federal appeals court today reinstated a lawsuit by a Brookline woman who sued because she was very put out upon finding that "100% natural" Wesson Oil may be derived from genetically-modified plants, which she claims makes it anything but natural. Read more.
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