As promised in last week's newsletter, I am pleased to share with you a snapshot of the year in review and what we can look forward to in 2014 in Downtown Boston. 

2013 brought numerous developments to fruition, including the sleek Millennium Place (580 Washington St.), a 265-unit residential tower, and Hamilton Crossing (8 Winter St.), which brought an additional 48 rental units to the heart of downtown. We also welcomed almost 20 new restaurants and retailers to downtown, ranging from Barry's Bootcamp -- a trendy workout spot -- to Cheeseboy -- America's first to-go grilled cheese franchise -- as well as the Lou Lou boutique, the hot Mexican restaurant Papagayo, and the Walgreens emporium (with fresh sushi made daily!). 

Downtown's development boom will continue in 2014. Highlights include Millennium Partners' ongoing Burnham Building/Millennium Tower development, where Arnold Worldwide/Havas Media's headquarters will be by the end of the year, with a Roche Bros. supermarket following soon after. Two eagerly awaited ongoing projects include the Fox Residences (407 Washington St.) and the Winter Place residences (1-3 Winter Pl.), both opening this spring. And get your taste buds ready for the many new restaurants set to debut before spring, including BONAPITA (51 Franklin St.), Caff� Nero and Legal Crossing/LX at Millennium Place, Cocobeet (100 City Hall Plaza), The Merchant (60 Franklin St.), Painted Burro (29 Temple Pl.), and, later this year, PAUL bakery (1 Boston Pl.), and Strada 45 at 45 PROVINCE.  

The BID organization was equally busy last year. Our website presence continued to grow, reaching a broader audience and providing daily news updates on our district as well as info on exciting BID-sponsored destination events, such as Boston.com's Running With The Bridesmaids and The Boston Cup, the Boston Common's classic car show. A spring Downtown Crossing Home Tour drew hundreds of attendees, complementing the BID's perennially-popular seasonal programming: the Thursday night Downtown Crossing Block Parties, Downtown Holiday Market, and Summer Street Arts Market.  

In 2014, look for more excitement as we prepare to launch a new Spring, Summer, and Fall series of events. We'll be relocating our Block Parties, adding more entertainment opportunities, and repositioning our outdoor arts & crafts market. Plans for next year's holiday season are underway as we focus on introducing a new and heightened presence throughout the district. 

As stewards of the public realm, the BID will continue its work on capital/public improvements for everyone's enjoyment and pleasure. In 2013, the Kingston-Bedford traffic island renovation was completed, and plans for new public art and sculpture installations were developed. In 2014, you will see special lighting programs highlighting architectural elements throughout the district, along with a new wayfinding system, set to be launched this spring. In order to continue to bring new public amenities to the district, the BID is developing a five-year capital plan. And last but not least, our advocacy continues as we develop closer working relationships with our members and the public. The BID Ambassador program, which operates 24/7/365, is our most valued program, and we are proud of the work that the men and women of this group provide.  

Downtown Boston Business Improvement District