Photo gallery is proposed for Downtown Crossing

Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a project today that proposes to turn a big construction site in Downtown Crossing into a giant outdoor photo gallery.

By the fall, Menino envisions a public art project, called "Have We Met Yet?", that will be made up of hundreds of "street portraits" of people who visit Downtown Crossing; the photo installation will "wrap" the construction site of One Franklin, the landmark site of the former Filene's department store, Menino's office said.

Downtown Crossing is undergoing big changes, and some fear it might not recapture its earlier glory as a key retail destination in the city.

(A Globe file photo shows the Filene's Christmas tree, where hundreds annually gathered to celebrate the season.)

A few years ago, Filene's parent company, was purchased by the parent company of Macy's, and the Filene's Downtown Crossing store was closed.

Seeing a bright future for Downtown Crossing, developers John B. Hynes III of Boston and Vornado Realty Trust of New York have proposed a $625 million redevelopment project that includes hotel, residential, retail, and office space on the Filene's site, and last September, Filene's Basement, a beloved local retail icon, closed its Downtown Crossing location to accommodate construction.

Once sister operations, Filene's and Filene's Basement became parts of separate companies many years ago.

According to Menino's office, more than $4.4 billion is being invested into Downtown Crossing to improve and increase its physical assets and to re-brand it as “Boston’s Meeting Place.”

In a statement today, Menino said of the "Have We Met Yet" project: “Our goal is for the people of this community to feel connected to each other, to feel connected to the neighborhood, and to be excited about the upcoming changes. Featuring community members to be the storytellers through a public art project is an innovative way to translate the idea of ‘Boston’s Meeting Place’ into the physical neighborhood.”

Menino's office said in a press release: "During the next two days, pedestrians will have the opportunity to pose for 'street-portraits' that will eventually be used to make the photo-installation piece. The event will be the first in a series that will activate the pedestrian area as 'Boston’s Meeting Place,' illustrating that the Downtown Crossing neighborhood brings together people from all parts of Boston to this central location every day."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)