Boston's Front Door
Playoff Hub to be reactivated on Canal Street.
Canal Street to close to vehicular traffic at 4:00 PM today April 29, 2025
The Playoff Hub will be returning to Canal Street for the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Canal Street will be a car free zone on days of Boston Celtics home games. The street will be closed to vehicles beginning four hours prior to game time and remaining for the duration of the game.
Additional activities will be announced should the Celtics advance.
The Downtown North Association (DNA) is a not-for–profit coalition, which represents the business, institutional, professional, hospitality and residential interests in the mixed-use community of the North Station area and the West End. The purpose of the Association is to encourage and contribute to the continued economic, social, and physical revitalization and redevelopment of the Downtown North/West End community as a whole.
The strategies employed to accomplish that mission include collaborative planning and proactive advocacy regarding the full range of issues and opportunities that challenge and confront our neighborhood, emphasizing communication, coordination and cooperation with the public agencies and private organizations that will influence and facilitate a more cohesive and successful community.
Located near one of the major public transit hubs in the region, the Downtown North area includes the regions largest indoor sports and entertainment venue (TD Garden), world class medical institutions, emerging tech companies, fine dining and entertainment venues, top notch architecture and engineering firms, first class lodging facilities, and thousands of new housing units.
Currently, the Downtown North area is experiencing millions of square feet of new development. These projects will bring new residents, office space, and additional retail. The Downtown North neighborhood remains one of the most attractive markets in Boston to live or work.
DEVELOPMENT
The Downtown North Association provides a forum for our members to discuss proposed development and its impact on our community. We have facilitated conversations concerning millions of square feet of development that will have lasting effects on the neighborhood. We have consistently been a member of Impact Advisory Groups and have led discussions with city and state agencies to support our membership and its position.
Economic Growth
The growth our existing business members are very important to us. We assist our members navigate the complicated process of city permits and licenses and offer support at regulatory hearings for matters that positively impact our membership. We also worked with our residential neighbors and the City of Boston to return previously regulated resident parking spaces to two hour parking to assist our businesses.
Infrastructure Improvements & Maintenance
The Downtown North Association has worked with the City of Boston on many reconstruction and planning processes in the area. The Connect Historic Boston
Project, the successful reconstruction of Portland & Lancaster Streets, the upcoming recsonstruction of Friend Street, and the North Station Mobility Plan are examples. In addition we routinely report issues to the City of Boston using the 311 mobile app and the Mayor’s 24 hour hotline.
Safety & Quality of Life
Working cooperatively with the Boston Police we serve as a liaison between our members and the city on public safety issues. We have established quarterly safety meetings to update our membership on the progress. We also work with area service providers to assist with a compassionate approach to the issues of homeless and panhandling in the community.
Networking
The Downtown North Association coordinates bi-monthly member luncheons where our members can connect with one another. The luncheon features a guest speaker to address a relevant topic or an area of concern for our community.