Opera House Opening Paves Way for Neighborhood Revamp

BOSTON-The Opera House, a landmark theater, has been restored to its 1928 glory and will have a gala opening this week. The $38-million effort dovetails with the city’s efforts to revitalize the neighborhoods around the theater. The so-called “palace for the people” will feature an inaugural performance of “The Lion King” in the first live production in the theater since 1990.

The restoration of the Washington Street area and the recently dubbed Ladder District is “one of our hallmark projects,” Meredith Baumann of the Boston Redevelopment Authority tells GlobeSt.com. “The opening of the Opera House will be the catalyst to change in the area.” She adds that Mayor Thomas Menino had made the restoration of the area into a “vibrant mixed-use” environment one of his priorities.

And that effort seems to be paying off. In October 2003, Archstone-Smith began construction on Park Essex–the largest rental residential property to be developed in Boston in more than 20 years. The 28-story building at 600 Washington St. will offer 420 apartments for lease. The developer anticipates that the studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences will be available by spring 2006.