Living in the Center of It All
Midtown offers an outstanding collection of restaurants and lounges for residents and those who work in the neighborhood. Midtown residents can attend performances at the Boston Opera House on Washington Street, watch a movie at Lowes 19 Screen movie theater, and work out at the popular Sports Club LA at the Ritz. While a major regional grocery store will reportedly be part of the Millennium Tower development, in the interim residents can shop for groceries at Walgreen's flagship store on Washington Street.
History
As one of Boston's fastest developing neighborhoods, Midtown is comprised of a group of city blocks in Boston's commercial center, located mid-way between the Back Bay and the Waterfront. The neighborhood includes parts of – and shares some borders with – the Financial District, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing and the Ladder District. Although over time the area has been primarily known for its retail shopping options and commercial office space, in the late 1700's and 1800's portions of the neighborhood were populated by opulent townhouses. The Great Fire of 1872 ripped through the neighborhood and destroyed the majority of its original structures. In the post-fire era, department stores Jordan Marsh and Filenes and other stores on Washington Street thrived and put Downtown Crossing on the map as the bustling retail hub of Boston. While the area functioned primarily as a commercial district, as the years went by developers recognized the potential for residential growth in the area. Tremont on the Common was built in the late 1960's, followed by the Parkside and Grandview in the 1980's and early 2000's respectively. Colleges including Emerson and Suffolk in recent years have purchased buildings and expanded their presence in the neighborhood. A major tipping point in Midtown's current residential development momentum was the construction of Millennium Partners' Ritz Towers on Avery Street in 2002. Lafayette Lofts, 45 Province Street and most recently Millennium Place have all followed. As Midtown has built residential critical mass, other projects, including the $630 million, 60-story Millennium Tower at the former Filene's site, are now under way.
