aaron c beals

i work in Mission Hill, just down the street from the Mission Church where the funeral ceremony is to be held for Senator Ted Kennedy tomorrow morning. because he was, arguably, one of the most well-known senators in US history, and was part of one of the most famous political families, and because President Obama is coming to town to give the eulogy, it goes without saying that things are a little busy today on Tremont Street. i couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to myself, though, as i looked around at the work being done–from windows being washed to trees being trimmed to light poles being re-painted–because it took the death of an elder statesman to get the City of Boston to actually tidy up this neighborhood.

now don’t get me wrong: Mission Hill has come a long way in recent years and is a much cleaner and safer place to be. we’ve got JP Licks, Flann O’Brien’s Pub, and the Savant Project. the people are great, and there are little parks tucked away, most with great views of the rest of the city. but it still isn’t what i would call “well-maintained”. today, that’s all changing, as the neighborhood prepares for the media spotlight.