BOSTON — Ever since the postwar demise of the venerable department stores that once distinguished Downtown Crossing as a shopping hub, the central section of this city has struggled to survive as a retail destination.
But some $4 billion in private investment over the last decade is finally stoking the long-neglected district with both a new attitude and fresh appeal. Developers are rapidly reinventing Downtown Crossing as an upscale residential neighborhood filled with stores, restaurants and cafes catering to students and young professionals.
