The Beacon Hill Business Association held its annual meeting on Thursday, March 28, at Hampshire House.
At that time, Lucy Grogan and Ali Ringenburg, outgoing co-presidents, outlined the organization’s recent highlights, including the imminent launch of its new website that will highlight each of the 75 members with descriptions and images of their businesses and feature a map and a history of the BHBA written by Tom Kershaw, an original member of the group and the event host.
“We want to keep it simple at first…but the idea is for to grow and eventually have a calendar and an events page,” Grogan said.
The BHBA also published the annual edition of its popular business map, which it disseminated to the top 40 hotels and condo buildings citywide.
“They’re being distributed elsewhere throughout the city to get people to our neighborhood, and it’s been effective,” Grogan said.
In addition, the Business Association sent a letter to all property owners on Charles Street via certified mail informing them of a new city zoning amendment sponsored by City Councilor Josh Zakim that mandates ground-floor on the street should be reserved for retail use.
“We want to keep retail shops on Charles Street,” Ringenburg said.
The organization’s newsletter, which Grogan launched two years, has continued to be an effective means of communication with members and the greater BHBA business community.
Also, the annual Concierge Stroll has grown to include 40 concierges, who are given a personal walking tour of Charles Street by BHBA representatives to better familiarize them with neighborhood businesses.
Other popular BHBA-sponsored events last year included the annual Sidewalk Sale, which featured a record 23 businesses using the sidewalk to display and sell their wares; semi-annual mixers that allow members to socialize and network; and the annual Holiday Stroll, which remains one of the neighborhood’s most popular seasonal events, drawing thousands to the neighborhood to enjoy musical performances, horse-and-buggy rides and the tree-lighting at Mt. Vernon and Charles streets.
Meanwhile, the Joint Charles Street Committee – a partnership between the Business Association and the Beacon Hill Civic Association – continues to fund a private cleaning service that tends to the street three times a week from the spring until September.
Stacy Sheehan, outgoing clerk and incoming co-president, introduced the board of directors for 2019-2020 whose executive committee also includes Steve Losordo, co-president; Markus Ripperger, vice president and Michelle Vilms, treasurer. A clerk for the new term has yet to be named.
Directors include Lana Baraket, Paul Elias, Jack Gurnon, Julianne Kiley, Brian Maglione, Linda Marshall and Ringenburg.