"Unfriendly to Business" = "Vacancies on the Rise"

Where have all the stores gone?
West Roxbury Bullitan
Scott Wachtler 27.MAR.08


Centre Street vacancies on the rise


According to West Roxbury Main Streets, from the Holy Name Rotary on Centre Street to the Spring Street intersection with VFW Parkway, there are almost 20 retail vacancies inside West Roxbury’s business district.

Two more high profile closings happened after that list was compiled — Imagine That and Vintage restaurant.

In order to try to stem this spate of store closings, Kelly Tynan, executive director of West Roxbury Main Streets, held a public meeting last week to address the issue and get feedback from the community.

"The purpose of this meeting is not to look at the past, but to look at the future," Tynan said. "Right now we have numerous vacancies in the business district and we want to get your feedback on what we want to see West Roxbury look like in the coming years."

Tynan said that the economic slow down has hit West Roxbury and it will only get worse.

"We need to work on a plan before it gets worse and it will get worse," she said.

Tynan plans to work with local landlords in order to make them aware of the community's needs.

Main Streets is currently working on setting up meetings between landlords and community groups.

Despite Tynan’s desire to look for solutions for future prosperity, some in attendance felt West Roxbury’s reputation as being unfriendly to new business was one of the factors contributing to the vacancies.

A man who identified himself as a developer said that it is very difficult to do anything in West Roxbury.

"The impression out there is that we are not friendly to new businesses," he said. "Anybody who wants to invest their capital and come to our community should be allowed to open and be allowed to succeed and fail on their own merits."

He compared West Roxbury’s economic strength to Needham, but said that West Roxbury has fewer services. Others in the audience agreed.

"I can’t buy a set of sheets without going two towns over," one woman said.

Some placed blame on "entrenched groups" in the community that resist new business, especially when there are liquor licenses at stake.

"I don’t feel as though the West Roxbury Neighborhood Council reflects what I want to see in the neighborhood," a woman in the audience said.

Neighborhood Council Board member, Stephen Smith and Tynan encouraged everyone to be part of the neighborhood council by coming to meetings to show support for the businesses that the community wants to see, or serving on the Main Streets board.

Andy Dean, a member of Main Street’s Board of Directors, asked Smith what some of the council’s considerations are when evaluating new businesses.

"Parking, parking, parking," Smith said. "Something that meets the needs of the neighborhood. [We ask:] is it different than what we already have? We don’t want to see something that just duplicates what we already have."

Nick Anastasopulos, also a member of the Board of Directors, said that parking needs were overstated.

"I understand the parking issue, but I think it’s all relative to what your experience is," Anastasopulos said. "Parking may be congested on Centre Street, but if you compare what we have with an Inman Square where there are tons of cars on the streets, that’s a crunch."

Smith said that parking isn’t the only consideration, but it is a problem and there should be a balance.

In an interview after the meeting, both Tynan and Smith agreed that the neighborhood council is set up to be a reflection of the community.

"People should get involved," Tynan said. "People aren’t always familiar with the process and people need to be vocal about what they want."

As a result of the meeting, Tynan said that some people in the audience joined the Main Streets board.

Smith felt it was unfair to say that the neighborhood council wasn’t a reflection of the community.

"Our meetings are open to the public and they are the fourth Tuesday of every month and people just need to come out and show support if they feel strongly about something," Smith said.

Other comments from neighbors attending the meeting included the need for a boutique store to buy gifts, a family restaurant that you could bring a child to, bookstores and even a small knitting shop.

"There’s nothing to do after eating at a restaurant here," one woman commented. "We need more arts and crafts or arts center.

Tynan said according to a recent retail survey, it was found that residents wanted more ice cream stores. There will soon be three stores selling ice cream in West Roxbury. A Champs Ice Cream will be moving into 1723 Centre Street, replacing the L’Esssence Art Gallery that was closed due to last year’s fire. In addition, Real Deal will start selling Emack & Bolio’s ice cream in the near future.

Tynan called the meeting a step in the right direction and productive. She said West Roxbury Main Streets supports the community process and is working on changing the perception that West Roxbury is unfriendly to business.

"We’re here to help businesses though the community process," she said. "We need people to be vocal about how we’re a welcoming community. We need to get that perception out there and let businesses know."

- The Bulletin Newspapers