Suffolk opens new dorm in Downtown Crossing

By Globe Staff

The revitalization of Boston’s Downtown Crossing area today passed another milestone as Suffolk University opened a residence hall on West Street.

"Suffolk is going to be a great asset," said Mary Ann Ponti, a board member on the Downtown Crossing Association.

The building will house 274 undergraduate students in apartments and suites, and will feature a coffee shop and restaurant on the street level, the university said in a statement.

Downtown Crossing has struggled for years, and the retail district suffered big blows last year with the closure of Filene's Basement and the Filene's Department store. Demolition of the Filene's complex starts this month, meaning the heart of the district will become a construction zone for the next two years.

Ponti, who lives on Washington Street in the district, said things are looking up, however, with repairs to sidewalks, streets, and lighting, and stepped-up policing.

"Everything has been coming along, slowly but surely," she said.

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