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A proposed cluster of buildings overlooking Riverway Park has drawn scrutiny over the height of one of its buildings, which critics say would cast shadows upon part of the historic Emerald Necklace.

Why it matters: The development has divided locals. Some welcome the prospect of new affordable units at a time when Boston rents are among the nation’s highest. Others say new housing shouldn’t mean blocking sunlight from the beloved public green space.

Catch up fast: City planning officials approved plans for a 1.7-million-square-foot development known as Longwood Place last month. It has labs, commercial space and 388 housing units.

But critics have honed in on one of the project’s five buildings that would be 295 feet tall. 

The shadow debate lives on as the developer, Skanska, seeks further approval for each phase of the Longwood Place project.

The big picture: State law limits the shadows new developments can cast over the Boston Common, with the exception of the Winthrop Square tower.

But no such law protects the Emerald Necklace, the world-renowned green space that Fredrick Law Olmsted designed more than 100 years ago.

Skanska, the developer, plans to set aside 20% of units in the mixed-use development as affordable units, according to its application. That’s above the city’s current requirement of 13%.

Skanska will pay $20 million in linkage fees for housing and job development. 

Skanska also plans to invest $6 million for an endowment to improve and protect the Emerald Necklace. It will spend another $1 million on a new shadow study.

Zoom in: “We recognize that it is difficult to satisfy everyone's individual priorities and we do not claim this project does that nor do we think that's possible for any development to achieve such a lofty standard,” said Carolyn Desmond, vice president of development for Skanska USA Commercial Development, last month. 

“We have been completely transparent throughout the process and have hopefully illustrated that we understand the need to protect and invest in our valuable public parkland,” Desmond added.

She said the company has collaborated with locals "to the fullest extent possible" since the design process started in summer 2021.

Students, residents and park dwellers say the 295-foot-tall office and lab space’s shadows would affect vegetation and the integrity of the historic Fens and Riverway Park areas.

Kelly Farrell, a Sasaki ecologist commissioned by developers, told city officials the shadows encroached upon the parks for under two hours at its peak on the vernal equinox on March 21.

But the city’s interim guidelines for the Longwood Medical Area say no project should be approved if it casts any new shadow on the Emerald Necklace, Joslin Park or Evans Park Way for more than an hour on March 21.

The 2003 guidelines, however, were never codified into the city’s zoning code, which would have made them enforceable.

What they’re saying: “Until we can actually get shadows into a shape where they do not create a precedent for other projects that are going to be coming forward, I think we need to table this one,” Tim Horn, president of the Fenway Civic Association, told planning officials before their vote. 

What’s next: Each building in the Longwood Place proposal has to go through another review process.

In the meantime, Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok and residents say they hope the city moves toward policy changes that protect green spaces from new shadows.

Inside Longwood’s shadow debate

A proposed cluster of buildings overlooking Riverway Park has divided locals.

A proposed glassy-looking, mixed-use development on Brookline Avenue is set to include lab space, commercial space and 388 units.

A proposed cluster of buildings overlooking Riverway Park has drawn scrutiny over the height of one of its buildings, which critics say would cast shadows upon part of the historic Emerald Necklace.Why it matters: The development has divided locals. Some welcome the prospect of new affordable units at a time when Boston rents are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="among the nation’s highest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2022/09/29/boston-renters-expensive-apartments-cities" data-vars-content-id="3ff08beb-1b7d-4799-9552-83ab95002ec0" data-vars-headline="Inside Longwood’s shadow debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2022/09/29/boston-renters-expensive-apartments-cities" target="_self">among the nation’s highest</a>. Others say new housing shouldn’t mean blocking sunlight from the beloved public green space.

News

A new federal lawsuit against Massachusetts education leaders claims the state lets vocational and technical schools "systematically exclude" at-risk students.

The big picture: Votechs have been described as game-changers for low-income, nonwhite students seeking stable, well-paying careers in the trades. But advocates argue the admissions process is booting eligible candidates who fall under those categories.

Driving the news: The civil complaint was filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights on behalf of education advocates and two high school students of color.

Advocates are calling the admissions process at votech schools discriminatory, and asking the U.S. Department of Education to intervene.

Zoom in: The schools use a ranking system to admit applicants based on grades, attendance, interviews and other factors. Like private schools, they typically only accept the highest-ranking students, the complaint says.

Advocates say the ranking system undermines traditionally marginalized groups like students who are nonwhite, low-income, English language learners and disabled — all of whom are protected under federal law. 

By the numbers:  Of students who applied to votech schools for the 2022-2023 school year, 55% of the students of color were offered admission, compared to 69% of the white students, the complaint states, citing state data.

54% of students from economically disadvantaged families received offers compared to 72% of their peers, per the complaint.

44% of English language learners got offers, compared to 64% of non-ELLs.

54% of students with disabilities received admissions offers compared to 65% of students without disabilities.

The state Department of Early and Secondary Education said in a statement it is reviewing the lawsuit and “cannot comment on the allegations at this time.”

Massachusetts vocational schools draw scrutiny for admissions policies

Advocates argue the admissions process is booting eligible candidates who fall under those categories.

Illustration of a giant hand writing grades on a revolving door

Massachusetts

A new federal lawsuit against Massachusetts education leaders claims the state lets vocational and technical schools &quot;systematically exclude&quot; at-risk students.The big picture: Votechs have been described as game-changers for low-income, nonwhite students seeking stable, well-paying careers in the trades. But advocates argue the admissions process is booting eligible candidates who fall under those categories.

Boston’s diverse cuisine, historic architecture and iconic baseball park has landed the city on Travel + Leisure’s list of best U.S. cities. 

The big picture: "History earned this New England hub many accolades from T+L readers, as did the cultural and sports institutions, with one voter calling Fenway ‘one of the most beautiful ballparks,'" T+L writes.

The Seaport’s transformation and the latest wave of restaurants popping up don’t hurt, either.

The intrigue: The rats, transportation woes and high costs plague Bostonians, but they haven’t deterred interest from tourists worldwide. 

Zoom in: T+L readers ranked Boston 10th, above Austin; Williamsburg, Virginia; Asheville, North Carolina; San Diego; and Nashville. 

Yes, but: New York City, Honolulu and Santa Fe, New Mexico were among the cities that ranked higher. 

Steph’s thought bubble: I haven’t been to all of the cities in this list, but I was surprised to see Alexandria, Virginia, rank eighth. 

Do you agree with the rankings? Reply to this email and let us know.

Tourists hand Boston another accolade

Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Boston the 10th best city in the country.

An ice rink sites upon Fenway Park's field during the Winter Classic. This is the view from the stands with the Prudential Center and other skyscrapers in the background.

Fenway Park transformed for NHL's Winter Classic. Photo: M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Boston’s diverse cuisine, historic architecture and iconic baseball park has landed the city on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Travel + Leisure’s list" data-vars-click-url="https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/best-cities-in-the-united-states-2022" data-vars-content-id="676fc84b-03fe-43ba-b910-701de3fb536c" data-vars-headline="Tourists hand Boston another accolade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/best-cities-in-the-united-states-2022" target="_blank">Travel + Leisure’s list</a> of best U.S. cities. The big picture: &quot;History earned this New England hub many accolades from T+L readers, as did the cultural and sports institutions, with one voter calling Fenway ‘one of the most beautiful ballparks,&#x27;&quot; T+L writes.

Things to Do

Steph here. I watched sports fans, loyal Encore customers and iconic athletes place their first legal sports bets in the Boston area. 

Why it matters: For sports fans and casino regulars, yesterday’s launch was the culmination of a years-long wait.

“It’s amazing. It’s long overdue,” says Bill Dorazio Sr., a Tewksbury native who runs the Everything Encore Boston Facebook group.

The intrigue: The first players ranged from Dorazio and other Encore regulars to former New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law and Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano. 

Dorazio bet twice on the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl. 

One was a money line bet, based solely on the outcome, and another was a point spread, a bet based on the margin of victory.

Mariano, who represents Quincy, made two $50 bets: one that the Celtics would win the NBA Finals, and another that the Bruins would take home the Stanley Cup.

State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, the House’s budget chief, made a $50 parlay bet on both the Celtics winning the Finals and the Bruins winning the championship. The bet only pays off if both teams win.

“In other words, he threw his money away,” Mariano quipped after Michlewitz explained the wager to me.

Angela Ruggiero, former Olympic hockey player and co-founder of Sports Innovation Lab, made a $50 bet on the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup. 

Law placed a $1,000 bet on the Celtics winning the NBA Finals.

He also put down $240 on the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.

Then came Julian Edelman. The former Patriots wide receiver showed up to Encore last night handcuffed to his briefcase.

He made an $11,000 bet on the Celtics winning the championship. 

When I asked him if he consulted his parents this time, he said no and looked into the cameras. “So, dad…sorry.”

The first (legal) bets in Massachusetts

For sports fans and casino regulars, yesterday’s launch was the culmination of a years-long wait.

Former Olympic hockey player Angela Ruggiero (center) shows her ticket alongside former Red Sox player Johnny Damon (right) by Encore's betting windows. On the left is Rep. Aaron Michlewitz.

Olympian turned market research executive Angela Ruggiero (center) shows off her first bet, alongside other local champions and legislators. Photo: Encore Boston Harbor 

Sports betting

Steph here. I watched sports fans, loyal Encore customers and iconic athletes place their first legal sports bets in the Boston area. Why it matters: For sports fans and casino regulars, yesterday’s launch was the culmination of a years-long wait.

Sports

Business

Tomorrow's in-person sports betting launch couldn’t come soon enough for countless Boston sports fans and underground bettors. If you can’t tell the difference between a point spread and a moneyline, here’s what to know. 

Why it matters: Boston is a major sports city and, by some accounts, a hotspot for underground wagering.

A popular bet will likely be on the Celtics reaching and winning the NBA finals, WynnBET vice president of trading Alan Berg tells Axios. That’s an example of a "futures" bet.

There are also "moneyline" bets, or bets on the outcome of a game like the Celtics vs. Nets game on Wednesday. 

A "point spread" bet lets you bet on the margin of victory or loss, or on other factors. More on that here. 

Sportsbooks assign a negative value to the likely winner, or "favorite," and a positive value to the "underdog."

Of note: Encore lets customers bet anywhere from $10 to $1,000 on certain games. 

The casino places a $300 limit on players who aren’t Wynn Resorts members. 

A room in Encore's parking lot has kiosks inside and is called the "WynnBET express sportsbook." It's currently roped off until the Jan. 31 in-person sports betting launch.

Encore’s express sportsbook station is in a parking lot, where customers can “park and play” to make a quick wager and leave. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios

Massachusetts accepts wagers on a variety of events, from pro sports to the Oscars.

Perhaps the most popular sports games for betting are pro football and college basketball, but you can also bet on hockey, baseball, MMA, golf, sailing and a bunch of other sports, per the state’s catalog. 

Some people place a bet before watching a game with their friends. Others submit a dozen wagers to the betting window or kiosk. 

For novices, Berg of WynnBET suggests starting small, maybe with a $10 or $50 bet to practice.

He also recommends using WynnBET's Bring Your Own Device website to prep a bet and create a QR code that you can plug into a kiosk to speed up the in-person process. 

That option lets you research the odds and the level of risk without holding up the line. 

Pro tip: One resource for newbies is Encore’s promotions room on the second floor. Workers there will show customers how to place bets, what terms to know and how to read the odds. 

Sports betting in Massachusetts, explained

Boston is a major sports city and, by some accounts, a hotspot for underground wagering.

A handful of kiosks appear in front of Encore's sports restaurant, On Deck, and are roped off and not operational until the state's sports betting launch on Jan. 31.

Encore stationed a handful of its kiosks in front of its sports restaurant, On Deck. These kiosks are offline when there’s an event at the nightclub across the hall. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios

Tomorrow&#x27;s in-person sports betting launch couldn’t come soon enough for countless Boston sports fans and underground bettors. If you can’t tell the difference between a point spread and a moneyline, here’s what to know. Why it matters: Boston is a major sports city and, by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="some accounts" data-vars-click-url="https://bookies.com/news/massachusetts-sports-betting-2023-legislation" data-vars-content-id="f271106b-b712-44e9-815f-f4db2a2c9ca6" data-vars-headline="Sports betting in Massachusetts, explained" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bookies.com/news/massachusetts-sports-betting-2023-legislation" target="_blank">some accounts</a>, a hotspot for underground wagering.

Steph Solis

Featured stories

Massachusetts vocational schools draw scrutiny for admissions policies

Inside Longwood’s shadow debate

The first (legal) bets in Massachusetts

Tourists hand Boston another accolade

Sports betting in Massachusetts, explained