The Gentrification of Downtown Crossing Continues

We've all seen it coming. The redevelopment of the old Filene's building. The takeover of buildings by Suffolk and Emerson. The closing down of retail stores on Washington Street to make room for what I'm assuming will be more upscale ones.

Mayor Menino has been taking retailers on a tour of the Downtown Crossing area in hopes of attracting them to open up outposts there. In addition, some new big developments are in play.

Menino announced that New York-based developer Midwood Investment and Development will soon file plans with the BRA to develop the building at Bromfield and Washington streets, where the current Payless Shoes is located. The plans include demolishing the current site and raising a 436,000-square-foot, 28-story building with 260 residential units. The building will consist of 23 floors of rental residential units, three floors of parking, and three floors of retail space. Total project cost is $200 million, according to the BRA.

Which retailers were on the tour? 1-800-Flowers, Aveda, Chipotle, Wagamama, Planet Fitness, Yum! Brands, Boloco, Chunky’s Cinema Pub and Foodie’s Urban Market, Ulta Salon, and Five Guys Burgers and Fries were all there.

Personally, I have my fingers crossed for the Chipotle or Five Guys Burgers.

Click (here) or (here) to read more about the tour.

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Gas Disruption Downtown Worse Than Expected

I say "worse than expected" in the title because "wayyyyyyyyyyy worse than expected" wouldn't fit. Holy cow, when I first read about the gas line being flooded in the Financial District & North End the articles reported that it'd be fixed in a matter of days.

Now, a report today says:

Residents and businesses in the Financial District and parts of the North End could suffer sporadic failures of gas service through the spring and possibly into summer and beyond, because it will take months for utility crews to remove all water trapped in gas lines by a weekend water-main break, officials said.

Uhhh, that's insane. Not only are restaurants in the area unable to cook, but people who live in the area do not have heat or hot water.

At least one building that I know of that is affected is The Devonshire. I was there yesterday and they confirmed - no heat or hot water.

Not cool guys. How can an original estimate of a couple of days suddenly turn into a several months. Saying that the damage is worse than you thought is quite the understatement don't you think?

I'm moving into that area in a month and half and I expect to be able to take a hot shower.

Click (here) to read the Globe article for yourself.

UPDATE 4/30/08

The news just continues to get worse. Here's the latest from a Globe article today.

While the bulk of the water has been removed, the complicated process of removing the remaining pockets of water could stretch into winter, meaning that customers will see periodic disruptions of gas service for the rest of the year.

People are already bailing out of the area for lack of hot water, but the only saving grace is that it's warming up and we're in the midst of Spring. If these problems stretch into winter - people cannot survive without heat. Better start making contingency plans - that goes for tenants as well as landlords.

Click (here) for the latest globe article.

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Filene's Basement Back in Downtown Crossing

I find this somewhat humorous. Everyone made such a big deal about Filene's basement leaving their famed Downtown Crossing site and now it looks like they're going to be coming back. A little more dressed up - but back in their original space.

Filene's Basement will move into One Franklin -- the redeveloped home of the original Filene's basement -- March 2009, confirmed John B. Hynes III, president and CEO of Gale International LLC, one of the owners and the developer of the building. The legendary mark-down retailer will occupy its original yet renovated three basement floors, said Hynes.

They're doing a pretty good job with the demolition right now. I can't wait to see how it turns out - especially since I'll be moving into the Downtown Crossing area soon. If you haven't ventured into the area lately, here's a rendition of what it's supposed to look like when it's done.

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Stoddards Fine Food & Ale Coming Soon

There's not much to eat in the Downtown Crossing area. Mantra, Ivy, Fajitas & Ritas. Nothing that I'm really a big fan of - except for Quizno's (those prime rib sandwiches are delicious).

Well, the owners of Ivy are in the works to lease a space right across the street (On Temple Place) and turn it into "a new restaurant, Stoddards Fine Food & Ale, named for the former fine cuttlery store that once occupied the building."

Ashmore said the new restaurant would seat about 120 and have a full liquor license, with a focus on handcrafted ales. It would have a classic American theme harkening back to the 1900s.

The new restaurant is slated to in September and now that I'm thinking about the area, I retract my previous statement. Silvertone is awesome. But there's always a crazy long wait for dinner.

Click (here) to read the article.

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TJ Maxx Elves Touring the City - 12/12

Oh, TJ Maxx (and Marshalls), I can't really decide how I feel about you guys. Things were great for a while and then you had to go and lose 100 million credit card numbers (here). Identity theft is one of those things that terrifies me (almost as much as clowns and those weird hairless cats), so imagine how pissed off I've been after this incident. Click (here) to read about how I'm dealing with it.

Anyhoo, the TJ Maxx elves are going to be touring the city and giving away free stuff. Yay for free stuff - the key to my heart.

A fleet of 'stylish' elves will leave the North Pole early and hit the Boston streets to spread holiday shopping cheer, prizes and fun beginning on December 12th. The elves will do good deeds throughout the city, hand out a Holiday Gift Guide filled with creative tips on entertaining, holiday gift ideas and more, as well as prizes worth up to $1,000. The elves will also be equipped with holiday giveaways including candy canes and t-shirts!

Wednesday, December 12
Downtown Crossing (10:30 - 2) South Station (2 - 6:30)
Thursday, December 13
Downtown Crossing (10:30 - 2) Faneuil Hall Area (2 - 6:30)
Friday, December 14
Boylston Street (10:30 - 2) Newbury Street (2 - 6:30)
Saturday, December 15
Downtown Crossing (10:30 - 2) Faneuil Hall Area (2 - 6:30)
Sunday, December 16
Boylston Street (10:30 - 2) Newbury Street (2 - 6:30)

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Wedding Season

It's warm outside - that means weddings. It also means bachelor parties, but that's another post.

Two big events are going on this week for all you brides out there. And while I'm sure those that are getting married are pretty on top of their game already, there may be a few ladies out there that are not quite engaged yet but still curious about what's available. So here we go.

EVENT #1

Preview Event For:
Vera Wang's Spring 2008 Bridal Collection
June 14th through June 16th

Call to schedule a trunk show appointment:
617.424.1060

Vera Wang Boston
253 Newbury Street
Boston, MA

EVENT #2

Filene's Basement's "Running of the Brides"
1 Day Only - Friday, June 15th @ 8am
Downtown Crossing
Prices from: $249, $499, $699

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