This is a developing story 🏗️

5 Boston-area developments to watch

Rendering of plans for Dorchester waterfont

Read up on potential plans for Dorchester’s waterfront area. | Rendering via Accordia Partners

It’s looking like a groundbreaking year for Boston’s development scene. Mayor Wu has plans to shake up the Boston Planning & Development Agency and introduce a new office for planning and design.

As we await details on the future of our city’s planning process, here are five major development projects + proposals to know about.

Parcel 12

Eyes up to see the ongoing construction on this air rights development. The project, expected to be completed this summer, will consist of a public plaza between two towers over the Mass Pike + help connect the Back Bay and Fenway neighborhoods. Plus, there’s another development planned for the Pike, called Fenway Center.

Dorchester Bay City

This proposal by Accordia Partners would completely transform the Columbia Point waterfront into a mixed-use community space. Plans include a 6,300-sqft public pavilion, a learning and innovation center + affordable on-site housing. This project is currently under review, and the public comment period is open until Feb. 28.

View Boston at the Prudential Center

The Back Bay shopping destination is undergoing some big changes, primarily to the top of the building. The new three-floor observation deck is scheduled to open later this year with panoramic views, a selfie experience, and interactive exhibits.

Rendering of an observation deck at the Prudential Center building in Boston — The revamped deck will take up 59,000 sqft of space.

MGH Cambridge Street Expansion

Mass General Hospital recently broke ground on its 1.5 million-sqft campus expansion. The development project along Cambridge Street has a price tag of almost $2 billion and will include the Mass General Cancer Center + Corrigan Minehan Heart Center.

Suffolk Downs

Opening to the public this spring, the former East Boston racetrack is transforming into The Stage at Suffolk Downs. The 8,500-seat seasonal, outdoor concert venue will be located at the infield of The Track at 525 William F McClellan Highway.

(Psst… This is not a comprehensive list. If there’s a construction project you’d like to share with us or learn more about, send it our way.)

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Wednesday, Feb. 8

Parks Fitness: Yoga | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 6-7 p.m. | BCYF Roslindale Community Center, 6 Cummins Hwy., Roslindale | Free | Unwind at this pop-up yoga class, taught by Not Your Average Yoga teacher.
“Till” Screening | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 6 p.m. | Showcase SuperLux Chestnut Hill, 55 Boylston St., Newton | Free | Reserve your spot in advance for a free screening of the film “Till” with special guest Attorney Ron Sullivan, Jr.

Thursday, Feb. 9

The Legacy of Black Boston: Then, Now, and Our Future | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual, Boston | Free | Join the panel discussion with Black male leaders who will share about Black history in our city.
BPM Movie Night | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 6 p.m. | Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston | Free | Catch a free screening of “Definitely, Maybe” with a side of local bites + brews.
Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best Live! | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston | $30-$45 | See the podcast host and actor from “Freaks and Geeks” and “Dawson’s Creek.”

Friday, Feb. 10

Valentine’s Day Pop-Up | Friday, Feb. 10-Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 11 a.m. | South Station, Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street, Boston | Free | Celebrate those you love at this pop-up shopping experience with roses, cards, and stationery on Dewey Square.
Jessamine Chan + Michelle Min Sterling | Friday, Feb. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | All She Wrote Books, 451 Artisan Way, Somerville | $0-$20 | Join the Somerville bookshop for an in-person event with the author of “The School for Good Mothers.”

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

29º | Partly cloudy | 1% chance of rain

Civic

Yesterday, Mayor Wu announced the 10 members of the City’s new Reparations Task Force. The group has been created to study the lasting impact of slavery in Boston. Meet the members who will meet over the next 18 months to explore ways the city can provide reparative justice for Black residents.

Coming Soon

The Lego Discovery Center in Somerville announced its official reopening date: Wednesday, April 12. Check out a sneak peek of the upgrades at the 43,000-sqft space, from a digital space experience to a minifigure creator area. (Boston Business Journal)

Biz

Two local businesses in Porter Square are up for sale. The eatery Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar will not reopen after first closing in March 2020, and the live music venue Toad will remain open until it’s sold by the Cambridge Eats and Beats restaurant group. (Boston.com)

Arts

If you’re a poet and you know it, apply for Boston’s Summer 2023 Poetry Scholarship. Six writers will spend one week at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown studying under a poet of their choice. Learn more + apply before Monday, March 6. ✍️

Sports

US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is set to join the National Hockey League Players Association as its new executive director. Walsh previously served two terms as Boston’s mayor from 2014-2021. (ESPN)

Environment

Did you see a helicopter around Fenway Park this past weekend? The historic baseball park got new LED lights to replace the old lights, which were installed in 1982. Learn more about environmental initiatives for the stadium. ⚾ (Boston.com)

Tech

A local biotech internship program is helping 1,000 college students find summer jobs and internships each year. Project Onramp partnered with the venture capital firm Third Rock Ventures to provide opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. (Boston Globe)

Edu

Students in Suffolk University’s Sports Management program will get to learn from the Boston Celtics starting in fall 2023. The partnership will allow students to learn about challenges and opportunities for the team, from growing reach with fans to identifying potential business partners. 🏀

Wellness

Not feeling like yourself lately? Talkspace makes getting help easy and convenient. With live chat, video, and audio sessions, starting at $69/week, it’s affordable for everyone to fit therapy into their lifestyle, with or without insurance. Start feeling better today with Talkspace.*

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Arts

Welcome to the neighborhood 🎨

Help create a new first impression for Boston’s neighborhoods. | Photo by @khmacomber

Boston is seeking help from local artists to make our neighborhoods more welcoming.

The City of Boston launched its Neighborhood Sign Redesign program this week. The goal is to refresh 15 official neighborhood signs, from Allston to Dorchester and West Roxbury.

“I’m excited for this program to empower our residents to create welcoming, creative signs to reflect the unique, vibrant neighborhoods and communities they live and work in,” said Mayor Wu.

Interested artists can submit a total of three designs based on the provided template by Friday, March 3.

Artists will be selected around mid-March, and we can expect to see fresh signs around the city by this summer.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sara.

Editor’s pick: There was a lot of buzz around our recent Zodiac signs as neighborhoods piece, and I’d love to keep the astrology conversation going.

Let me know what version of this story you’d want to see next — maybe the zodiac signs as restaurants, T stations, or Dunkin’ coffee orders? Share your topic ideas here (plus any strong feelings you have about your sign).

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out our guide to dog-friendly spots around Boston.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

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