Image 7: An example of storefront renewal on Washington Street
This picture captures the architectural character of the neighborhood, with a ground-floor dedicated to retail businesses and housing units above
Maintaining and empowering local resources was set as a main goal, both in terms of entrepreneurship and occupation. Opportunities for new jobs and businesses were created, also encouraging local banks to implement small business lending initiatives, promoting technical assistance and business loans [Image 8 and 9]. This effort was fully supported by the creation of a district-wide business association to promote and lobby for businesses in the whole South End and Lower Roxbury. Image 8 and 9: Foodie’s and the Don Quijote Market
Foodie’s and the Don Quijote Market are examples of the effort to retain diverse and ethnic businesses in spite of the increase in market values. While the first was assisted by WGMS to maintain jobs for local residents, the latter was supported to remain on Washington Street and serve the Hispanic ethnic group.
Nonetheless, as investments began to flow in the area and remarkable number of new shops opened, interests of national chain stores arose. In this regards, an example is the Walgreens store on Washington Street which, in the words of Randi Lathrop, once the neighborhood was revitalized, decided to invest in the area and its now the most profitable store of its chain in Boston because of its proximity to the South End Community Health Centre [Image 10 and 11] and the Boston Medical Centre.
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