“It’s too bad.” That’s how the president of the Boston City Council greeted last night’s news that Google had won approvals to expand its Cambridge headquarters. Google ran into a surprisingly contentious expansion fight in Cambridge, raising hopes in Government Center that Boston might be able to poach the tech giant from across the Charles. […]
Growth and Development
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, The Download
Gambling law unknowns
The late entry of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe has upended the calculus behind the Mashpee Wampanoag’s Taunton casino bid. The Mashpee were supposed to have a head start on one of the three casino licenses the state will be handing out. Now, at the very least, the Mashpee might have to head to court to […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Retaining Boston’s tech cluster
Today marks the fourth day of South by Southwest (SXSW), a conference that attracts almost 50,000 people and showcases the latest in music, film, and technology each year in Austin. Back here in Boston, the business pages are highlighting our own cluster of tech companies in areas like social networking, retail, and health care; the […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, State House News Service, The Download
Where the Pentagon sees guns, Mass. sees butter
With Gov. Deval Patrick gone AWOL more and more, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray has been tapped to lead the fight to forestall cutbacks at Bay State military facilities. So far, the Pentagon is winning. Massachusetts has staved off major cuts before. But with the Department of Defense under pressure to shave nearly $500 billion from […]
Posted inEconomy
Watchdog calls for Swan Boat audit
The following is the text of a letter sent to Boston Mayor Tom Menino from Matthew Cahill, the executive director of the Boston Finance Commission. February 23, 2012 The Honorable Thomas M. Menino Mayor of the City of BostonBoston City Hall, 5th Floor Boston, MA 02201 Dear Mayor Menino: The Finance Commission has been examining the […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
The lessons of the failed Columbus Center project
After a dozen years, 125 public meetings, and $100 million in sunk costs, the saga of the failed Columbus Center project, a mixed-use development slated to straddle the Massachusetts Turnpike in central Boston, has ended with barely a trace on the landscape. As the Massachusetts Department of Transportation solicits new proposals to build on other […]
Posted inEconomy
Shire top recipient of state tax credits
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center handed out $21.2 million in tax credits to 28 companies, with high-flying Shire HGT of Lexington garnering the top award of $3 million, bringing its three-year total under the program to $15.2 million. The tax credits are designed to both help life sciences companies add jobs in Massachusetts and reward […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Meditech project really dead
Back in September, medical software developer Meditech pulled the plug on a plan to build a $65 million office complex in Freetown, but South Coast officials mounted an intense effort to salvage the project. Yesterday, the company confirmed that the Freetown office development really is dead, and said it will be expanding around Interstate 495 […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, The Download
Millennium to plug hole
The ugly hole in the ground at Downtown Crossing is finally going to be filled, according to stories in the Boston newspapers. Millennium Partners will take control of the former Filene’s property on Washington Street and build a tower with retail stores, some office space, and residences. Vornado Realty Trust, the New York developer that […]
Posted inEconomy
Galvin trades barbs with S. Coast officials
South Coast officials traded pointed accusations with an unusually animated Secretary of State William Galvin today, as the two sides battled over a bill exempting a stalled Freetown office development from Galvin’s review. “You’re being asked to reward belligerence and noncooperation,” said Galvin, testifying before a legislative committee in opposition to the Freetown bill. The […]