It doesn’t take a master’s degree in art history, or a middle school education for that matter, to realize that Boston City Hall is an abysmal sight both outside and, in some cases, inside. Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration has made it a point to actually beautify, if not humanize, this space, starting with the third floor mezzanine where already the Stairs of Fabulousness helping to animate the otherwise cavernous, concrete space. The latest project is installing a coffee cart to not only give you that hourly daily injection of caffeine, but also to support small business.
That’s right, not only will City Hall plaza continue moonlighting as a revolving art exhibit but it will also provide City of Boston staffers and plaza passersby with that much-needed pick-me-up.
Susan Nguyen, a project leader and one-year fellow with the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics is helping to spearhead this project. She estimates a coffee provider could be embedded in City Hall sometime in December or January.
“We’re making the city, and making this actual building, more accessible to the public and in that way making governance more accessible to the public,” said Nguyen.
On Friday, the New Urban Mechanics ceased accepting submissions from coffee shops for the prized spot, consciously keeping applicants limited to the local variety as opposed to major chains, in hopes of further vitalizing the space in tandem with small business development in the city.
“There’s not a very good service being provided down there to activate the space and it’s such a great space between the lobby of the third floor and the fourth floor,” she added.
Now armed with a stack of submissions, Nguyen and her fellow intrepid civic tinkerers will sift through the shops to locate the one best suited for City Hall stardom. The office will also be collaborating with the Inspectional Services Department, Property & Construction Management Department and the Small & Local Business Enterprise Office to help facilitate and streamline the permitting process so that whichever coffeehouse is eventually selected, can set up shop on December 1 if they so choose.
Nguyen made it clear, though, that this December 1 date is when the City of Boston will be ready, not necessarily the brewers. They could call City Hall home as late as January.
“We’ll see how many people stop by, see how engaged they are, see how we as a city can continue to provide the same types of products down there,” added Nguyen. “Coffee Cart is one of those projects.”
Barring any setbacks the New Urban Mechanics expect to make their selection by Friday, November 14.
