Boston Council Hearing Surfaces Relief Options for Blue Hill Avenue Construction Casualties

BOSTON -- July 11, 2024, Blue Hill Avenue small business owners told Boston City Council Thursday that two-plus years of infrastructure construction has slashed sales by up to 70 percent and pushed businesses toward closure. The Committee on Small Business, chaired by District 4 Councilor Brian Worrell with Councilor-at-Large Julia M. Mejia as lead sponsor, held the off-site hearing in Roxbury's Bolling Building, where owners including Merengue restaurant, Boston Car Keys, which reported more than $200,000 in losses, and roughly a dozen others testified. State Rep. Chynah Tyler announced a $2 million bond bill amendment she secured through House Bill 4722 that would allocate approximately $25,000 to each of 47 to 48 businesses along the corridor, disbursed through Roxbury Main Streets once the governor releases the funds. Councilor Benjamin J. Weber flagged a previously overlooked 1990 city ordinance that required major road contractors to deposit one-half of one percent of project costs into a Disruption Impact Fund, which colleagues called a potential live model. Councilor Mejia pledged all ARPA dollars she advocates for in the next allocation round to businesses impacted by construction, with roughly $7 million in ARPA funds still unallocated citywide.