This Monday, the Mayor’s office announced plans to expand Open Newbury, the successful event of 2016 which closed down Newbury Street to vehicular traffic. Mayor Walsh is contemplating expanding the area closed off to cars, as well as the number of pedestrian-only days, from the single event last year to three separate Sundays this June, July and August. The event last summer was by all accounts a huge success, and several local businesses support the program’s continuance.
Beyond the Open Newbury program, there are several other areas in the Hub which may be closed to only pedestrian traffic, including a portion of Commonwealth Avenue during the Comm Ave bridge replacement starting this Summer. Curbed Boston’s Tom Acitelli wonders if either of these events could lead to a permanent motor vehicle restriction on some of these, or other, areas in the Hub or even nearby Somerville and Cambridge, and asks readers to weigh in.
Your turn, readers: do you want these programs to become permanent? Expand to other areas? Do you have concerns about the impact of property values or a change in the real estate market?
Whatever your concerns, know that if any of these, or other, programs become permanent, we’ll be here to help you work through the impact it may have on the property values of your current, or future home and help you navigate any real estate market!
Attorney Margaret Hoyt-Rupert