Good morning, Boston. Here are the five things you need to know to start your busy workday.
The biggest towers under construction
In a national look at large office projects expected to be complete this year, Boston came in at No. 2, with about 12 million square feet under construction — headlined by the 42-story One Post Office Square project in the Financial District that’s getting a wholesale reimagining.
Wu’s plan to boost downtown
The city of Boston is streamlining the steps to convert older, vacant office space into residential units and is planning a downtown block party — all to help bring people back downtown. (For more on that, keep scrolling.) She’s also considering hardship waivers and payment plans for North End restaurants.
Hear from the companies making a positive impact on our community in the weekly Good News Tuesday feature, sponsored by Santander Bank. Read more here.
Jobless rate drops as Mass. adds jobs
The unemployment rate in Massachusetts dropped to 4.7% in February from 4.8% the month earlier as the economy added 14,600 jobs last month, new state data showed.
More colleges invest in VC, crypto
Expect more college and university endowments to invest in private equity, venture capital and, yes, crypto, reports Hilary Burns, who spoke with a Boston investment firm on what’s to come.
Mariano on board with Russia divestiture
A proposal to divest state pension holdings in Russian-linked companies could still land on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk under a $1.6 billion supplemental budget plan, Steph Solis reports.
Biden’s budget impact
What else you need to know
By the numbers
Good News Tuesday
The National Grid Foundation focuses on helping its neighbors with food access, human services and emergency heating fund support by providing financial assistance to local communities impacted by Covid-19. Read the Good News here, sponsored by Santander.
Quotable
“He was a stickler for great design.” — Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, executive director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, describing the late Ned Johnson’s appreciation for art and craftsmanship.
What’s going on
Chris Rock’s first standup appearance following the slap is in Boston, tomorrow, at The Wilbur Theater.
Tell us about your workplace
Take 2 minutes to answer the latest BBJ/Seven Letter poll on the workplace of the future here.
This day in history
On this day in 1880, Louisa May Alcott and 19 other women attended the Concord Town Meeting and cast their first-ever legal votes.
What I’m watching
CODA on Apple TV (I finally watched it. It deserved the award. I’m not crying, you’re crying.)
What I’m reading
Voyage of Mercy, by Stephen Puleo
What’s on my playlist
Save It For Later, by The English Beat
How to get people downtown again
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to help bring people back downtown. She is doing it with a block party.
That’s right: On April 13 from the Rose Kennedy Greenway to Downtown Crossing, an effort called “Boston Blooms” will bring musical performances, art installations, food, drink and more up and down Summer Street.
But wait, there’s more. The Wu administration is also moving forward with plans to streamline the process of converting older office space — specifically, Class C space — into residential uses downtown.
Wu spoke with the Business Journal in an editorial roundtable yesterday about both programs: “We want to give people the reason to be drawn back into the workforce in-person,” Wu said. “We need to support our restaurants and public art and really give people that sense that this is a city you can’t miss out on.”
Her office is still looking for downtown businesses to participate in the block party. Does your company have an office downtown? Organizers want to hear from you.
PARTING SHOT
Congratulations to director Ben Proudfoot, who won the Academy Award for short subject documentary, for The Queen of Basketball. Don’t have time to see it all this morning? Bookmark it for later:
Join the BBJ & Olin College of Engineering for a dynamic virtual discussion.
Good News Tuesday is a new BBJ feature in partnership with Santander Bank highlighting positive acts that provide inspiration to others to follow suit.
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