As we welcome in 2016 we do so with much enthusiasm and continued optimism! This year the Downtown Boston BID will celebrate its fifth anniversary and we are proud of the collaborative efforts of so many and encouraged by the more than $3.9 billion of private investment in the last 10 years has transformed Downtown Boston into "the place more and more people want to be."

2015 saw much change to our landscape as we witnessed the topping off of Millennium Tower -- the 685-foot tall mixed use 60-story high rise, our growing number of residents cheered at the opening of the long anticipated super market Roche Bros. and long lines lingered into the night as people shopped at the new Irish international retailer Primark. For those who wondered about what the former Locke-Ober restaurant would become they were more than pleasantly surprised with the newest and trendiest spot in Boston -- Yvonne's. In a few short weeks on Washington Street, between West Street and Temple Place you will see the addition of the Godfrey Hotel Boston open its doors. Right around the corner and new to the block is Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors with the special addition of charcuterie and Moody's Delicatessen counter. Downtown is becoming the place for your choice of coffee and we now have more than a dozen coffee retailers with Ogawa Coffee's first US establishment on Milk Street and PAUL Bakery at One Boston Place.

Downtown Boston has recently also become a hub for tech firms as more and more moved their headquarters to the area, including Sonos, Datadog and ezCater. This year we will see more established companies move into the district, as well as startups, with many beginning at CIC Boston on Milk Street, which is a startup incubator.

The extraordinary transformation of Downtown Boston did not happen overnight and there are many people to thank. We are grateful to our dedicated and committed board of directors, visionaries from the public and private sectors, residents, property and business owners and non-profit organizations -- they have all worked to make the area a thriving and desired location. We especially want to acknowledge and thank Mayor Martin J. Walsh and his administration for their continued commitment and responsiveness to our unprecedented growth as we work together as collaborative partners.

In closing, on behalf of our board of directors, and everyone working on the BID team, I would like to thank you for your continued interest and support.

Happy New Year to everyone!

 

Sincerely,

Rosemarie E. Sansone
President and CEO
Downtown Boston BID

P.S. With colder temperatures looming, we ask those who are able to help to remember our shelters and other organizations in Downtown Boston with those in need. They are seeking volunteers and contributions of new thermal gloves, socks, hats and long johns. If you need assistance on where to direct your efforts, please contact us.