Boston’s failed Olympic bid wasn’t a waste of time
Boston may have failed to secure the 2024 Olympics, but city and state leaders say they aren’t walking away empty handed.
The planning for the potential Summer Olympics, which began in early 2014, leaves the city with blueprints for the future of Boston and Massachusetts, said Mayor Marty Walsh, Governor Charlie Baker, Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo at different points on Monday.
Both the state and city leaders didn’t seem all that bummed about losing the chance to host the Summer Olympics. Instead, they pointed out the positives of the bid process.
Most people didn’t even know what Widett Circle was before it was posed as a future Olympic Stadium destination, Walsh told reporters. Now it has a nickname — “Midtown.’’ Dorchester’s Columbia Point has been targeted for redevelopment since 2008 and drew renewed attention as the location of an Olympic Village. And who knew the sailing was so good in New Bedford?
“Some of the analysis especially around some of the economic development opportunities that were rolled out in that proposal and some of the transportation initiatives like the [Kosciuszko Circle] piece were pretty thoughtful and it’s something I think we could incorporate into our own activity in the future,’’ Baker said.
Then there’s the impending state-commissioned Brattle Group report that was supposed to analyze the Boston bid at a cost of $250,000.
“That will end up being a useful document for us as we think about transportation investments,’’ Baker said.
Walsh spoke of the city’s ongoing planning effort, a two-year process to envision what Boston should look like in 2030. The Olympics weren’t an essential part of that planning, Walsh said, but “the conversation of the Olympics has helped us think of things a little different.’’
Rosenberg said he liked seeing Boston leaders step forward and pursue the Olympics.
“I thought it was a bold move and I’m glad our folks did that,’’ he said. “Like New York, we’ll be able to follow up to add our own plans for the future.’’
Boston’s Olympic bid: The players
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