Millennium Tower (Filene's) | 426 Washington Street | Downtown

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Re: Filene's

AmericanFolkLegend said:
And that's worse than empty storefronts?
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Yes, I'm tired of the same old storefronts on every corner. They are starting to ruin America. What builds character are small business's, they are unique and have values from whatever culture transforms the area. The American business model for all these developers these days are CVS, Dunks, McDonalds, 7-11, Bank Of America, Citizens Bank, Citigroup. I think these companies are so overgrown that we need a change.

Just take a look at Inman Square, Porter Square, Davis Square. Alot of cool unique small Biz.

Harvard is starting to look to corporate to me. Filenes development will only be looking for the BlueChip Retails up above to pay for this development. Sorry DTX even if it gets built will be a corporate spread along with MACY's.

Too bad these clowns can't think outside the box these days.
 
Re: Filene's

I agree that independent businesses typically bring more character. But I would have a hard time arguing that a CVS is worse than a vacant building. And there's a reason 7-11 is cheaper than a corner store. Big biz benefit from economies of scale which leads to lower prices for you and me.
 
Re: Filene's

We don't need Bank of America or Citigroup anywhere -- the country would have been better off if they had been allowed to fail last year and were then reorganized back into the small regional bank groups that they were assembled from. But that's a tangent for another thread.
 
Re: Filene's

Ron Newman said:
I agree - Filling DTX with students will bring some of the Central-Inman-Harvard-Davis energy into downtown Boston, and the area needs that.
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How the mighty are brought low! Downtown Boston now needs a little help from Inman Square.

TheRifleman said:
Have you seen Harvard Square these days? It looks like Wall Street with a Bank at every major retail spot. The mom & pap days that created the character of Harvard Square are gone. It's too corporate.

Everything around that area would be CVS, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, .....You get the picture.
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Beton Brut said:
Agree. The scale and vibe might be closer to Cooper Square in NYC.
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Now, you do realize you?re talking about THE HUB OF THE UNIVERSE ? right?
 
Re: Filene's

At the moment, Inman Square is busy and full and economically prospering, while Downtown Crossing is not. So yes, DTX should learn from Inman Square.
 
Re: Filene's

What if all independent stores got together for purchases to achieve something of the economy of scale that the big corporations get.
 
Re: Filene's

THE HUB OF THE UNIVERSE---MACY's, MARSHALLS, FOOT LOCKER, Barnes noble, which you can go to every Mall in this state and find all these retailers.

Do you think the BRA could actually think of some creative ideas to lure unique business's for downtown? Build Boston into a fashion icon? Steal some idea's from Chicago or New York.
 
Re: Filene's

Not particularly relevant to Boston, but Duane Reed just got bought by Walgreens. Combine with the aggressive 7-11 expansion, and let the monotony continue!
 
Re: Filene's

Bleah. 7-11 bought White Hen Pantry, which is greatly annoying to the folks in Ball Square (Somerville) who love their White Hen and are about to see it close.
 
Re: Filene's

I like to know the quality and flavor-availability of my slurpees before I go to the store. Bring it on 7-11. Bring it on.
 
Re: Filene's

Let's go back to grad students for a second.

First, grad students will not make DTC look like Harvard Square. I'm a grad student and live very close to Harvard Square, but most of my friends can't find cheap housing here. They live in Central or out in Somerville. The businesses there are more typical of those that grad students are attracted to/attract.

Second, there's a pretty stable pool of grad students in Boston, unless the universities expand. I don't see how providing them housing is necessarily going to keep them in the area after graduation, except for relieving some price pressure on Somerville (which will just be reapplied by people moving in from other inner suburbs, or by the hike in value that will occur after the Green Line extension opens). If the city/state is concerned with retaining young people, it should be trying to attract venture capital so that kids with startup ideas don't have to migrate to places like SF.
 
Re: Filene's

I disagree that college kids will bring the same bs chain restaurants. Especially around DTX
 
Re: Filene's

czsz said:
If the city/state is concerned with retaining young people, it should be trying to attract venture capital so that kids with startup ideas don't have to migrate to places like SF.
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That's a really smart thought. I fully agree.

One thing to consider, though, is that not every young Boston resident or graduate is going to found, or work for, a start-up. A broadly business-friendly environment is, IMO, the most important thing there.

Boston isn't exactly Buffalo, but as our friend Lawrence Harmon likes to note, is hasn't had the success of NY, SF, Chicago, DC, Austin or other cities in getting young people to stick around, and working on its business-friendliness, both in fact and image (and I realize a lot of this is up to the state, not the city) to encourage job creation and give those whippersnappers a way to pay the rent, would be a start.

(Beyond that, increasing the number of places where affordability and livability coincide would be a boon, as would letting people have a drink after 2AM.)
 
Re: Filene's

What do you count as "business-friendly"? Because that's not the same thing as "job creation friendly". Venture capital will fund entrepreneurial activity that we can be sure will occupy the young and have high growth potential.
 
Re: Filene's

Suffolk 83 said:
I disagree that college kids will bring the same bs chain restaurants. Especially around DTX
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Disagree those chains, Walgreens, Barnes & Noble, Macy's, Starbucks, Dunks, Mcdonalds, Footlocker are the only ones that can afford the asking rents in DTX area.
 
Re: Filene's

kennedy said:
I think people aren't really recognizing the difference between having responsible graduate students paying rent as opposed to undergraduate hipsters living in tenements. I think that graduate students would function more like traditional residents supporting healthy neighborhood services.
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Points well taken. My opinion on this is somewhat disjointed. I'd really hate to see nothing happen, but I would be adamantly opposed to undregraduate dorm space. Graduate housing... OK, I could be brought on board.
 
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