Superior Court Judge Mary Ames on Thursday in a ruling "criticized the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s decision to declare" much of Yawkey Way "blighted, a key step that allowed the city to skirt open-bidding rules and strike a direct deal with the Red Sox," who now sell concessions and souvenirs there during games, according to Tim Logan of the BOSTON GLOBE. Ames in a footnote to her ruling wrote "no rational review of the facts" would suggest Yawkey Way was blighted. Ames: "Rather than deterioration, there has been constant development and building of new residences and successful businesses during the past 13 years." The BRA in September '13 "granted the Red Sox perpetual rights to close off much of the street on game days and sell food and souvenirs" in exchange for $7.3M. But Ames in her ruling wrote that Yawkey Way "should have been put out to public bid." The Red Sox are not named in the suit, which was filed by Massachusetts-based businessman Joseph Marchese Jr., and a team spokesperson "had no comment" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/17).
REDDISH GREEN: The AP's Rodrique Ngowi reported the Red Sox "are growing vegetables and herbs" in a 5,000-square-foot rooftop garden on the third-base side of Fenway Park, where the produce "is used in food and cocktails sold at the concessions, at nearby restaurants and in the team's flagship restaurant that prepares meals for about 40,000 people during home games." Green City Growers co-Founder Jessie Banhazl, whose company is responsible for planting and maintaining the garden, said that starting a farm at the iconic ballpark "required checking the structural integrity of the roof and using lightweight soil" (AP, 7/16).
