Rosemarie Sansone
Title: President, Downtown Boston Business Improvement District
Age: 69
Experience: Over three decades
The Downtown Business Improvement District does the dirty work of sprucing up Boston’s fast-changing downtown: removing graffiti, cleaning up cigarette butts, removing trash and providing security and directions for visitors to a 34-block area spanning 100 acres. The organization has an annual budget of $5 million, paid by assessments on properties within the district.
Q:How did the recession affect the preparation of the Business Improvement District?
A:When the financial crisis happened, we asked ourselves: do people really want to continue creating this organization? And the answer resoundingly was yes. We wanted to continue with the work that had begun. It took two-and-a-half years to create the BID but it was about having conversations with as many people as possible. There are 350 property owners representing over 600 parcels
Q:What were the needs that stood out when you were creating the BID?
A:We looked at best practices across the country. There were consistent themes of clean and safe and welcoming. We had identified the 40 top assessment property owners in the district to make sure the people who were going to spend the most money were involved. It was very important to reach out to the towers such as 101 Arch St., 1 Boston Place, the Bank of Boston building, and Equity Office Properties. We also didn’t want the smaller properties to think that the towers would have a say over everything. So we created a steering committee that represented everyone.
Q:How were the boundaries decided?
A: We looked at how people come in and out of the district and lines that made sense. Tremont Street seemed like a natural boundary. There had been a discussion to include Chinatown. At that time, folks said they wanted to wait and see although I can honestly tell you they’re sorry they didn’t join us, because they can see the difference.
Q:Is the organization stretched thin by the building boom?
A:Obviously the energy that construction creates is a very pleasant, welcome inconvenience in this neighborhood. People love seeing those construction trucks come in, the big pieces of equipment putting in the high rises. They’re looking forward to the Millennium Tower being built. It adds to the business at lunchtime. Also it means new residents and employees and that adds to the 24-7 activity of the neighborhood.
Q:What’s the most popular program?
A:The ambassadors, the folks in the orange shirts cleaning up graffiti, power-washing buildings. This year we added a few masons so they’re fixing broken bricks throughout the district. That’s very important because the city can’t do it all. We get emails from folks all over the world about having encountered an ambassador who looked at them and realized they didn’t know where they were, offered them maps or recommendations on seafood or where to get their shoes repaired. We haven’t delivered a baby yet.
Q:What’s changed under the new mayoral administration?
A:Their biggest priority is an open dialogue with people. The transparency of some of the decisions are made in permitting, I think that’s one of the things were heard through the hearings we held, people wondered why it took so long for some businesses to get approvals, and others looked like they were on a faster track. I think they want to address that in a meaningful way.
Q:What new programs are in the works?
A:This wayfinding (kiosk) system will be launched in the fall, these (map) elements that will be put on the street. We heard from a lot of people that finding their way through the district was very difficult. We have over 250,000 pedestrians and 160,000 employees passing through the district every day and we’re on the Freedom Trail which gets 4.2 million visitors a year so the wayfinding system is very important.
Then we’re upgrading our pushcart program. It’s been in existence for over 30 years. These retail merchandising units are being custom made. Six of these are going to arrive on Aug. 25 and are going to be installed at the Old State House, in front of Walgreens and in front of the Old South Meetinghouse. These will remain on the ground and be locked up at night. People believe that in retail, women do better. They’ve never been able to hire women as much as they’d wanted to because it was very difficult to push these things. In the holiday season we’re looking at significantly lighting many of the trees in the district.
Top Five Unforgettable Moments in Downtown Crossing:
- At age 18, walking to the State Houseon Park Street near the Paulist Center when I heard about the assassination of President Kennedy.
- Tasting my first hot fudge sundae at Bailey’s.
- Getting my first ballet slippers at Capezio.
- Going through the passageway at Temple Place with my dad at age 8 or 9.
- Seeing the transformation of Summer Street and the old Burnham Building.
