Boston Plans Overhaul of Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Boston officials have announced plans to transform Faneuil Hall Marketplace from a tourist trap into a destination appealing to locals.

According to a NewsCenter 5 WCVB report, a two-day workshop with expert planners is underway to reimagine the space.

“For too long, Faneuil Hall Marketplace has felt like the place you take people one time,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement shared with WCVB.

The refurbishment of Faneuil Hall comes amid ongoing trends of rising vacant office and retail space in the city, a reality driven by increasing remote work.

While the city owns Faneuil Hall and the land, an outside company manages its operations. WCVB noted that Faneuil Hall's leadership is open to allowing the market to convey a local flavor.

“This and every other space in our city should reflect our community, and so we should have small businesses that reflect every corner of Boston,” Wu said in a statement to WCVB.

Tourists are also expressing a desire for changes. WCVB spoke with one visitor, Darrell Marsh. “Personally, I would like local stuff. I love local merchants. I think they have a little more heart involved in the community,” he said.

Officials expect visible, smaller improvements to the market made by summer, while larger transformations will unfold over several years.