Deck the Faneuil Hall

The managers of Faneuil Hall Marketplace are seeking city approval to build a large deck off the south side of the Quincy Market building for an outside "lounge" — one of a series of changes in the works to attract new visitors.

The year-round, 61-foot by 31-foot wooden platform, which would be placed over the cobblestones, would provide a level surface for musical performances and more interactive programming, including yoga classes and an authors' series, according to general manager Kristin Keefe. It also would include an outdoor reading room with books, magazines and newspapers, a piano, a chess table, and moveable chairs and tables.

"It will be stuff for visitors to do instead of just watch," Keefe said. "Currently most of our programming is 'watch a street performer perform.'"

New historic tours of the retail center and tourist mecca's Quincy Market, South Market and North Market buildings also will be launched from the deck.

"We're just acknowledging that ... we're surrounded by amazing historical sites, but often (they're) overlooked," Keefe said. "They will focus on the history of our three buildings."

New York-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., which purchased the lease for the city-owned Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 2011, hired New York's Biederman Redevelopment Ventures last year to create outdoor programming for the center as part of larger revitalization plans to attract more locals. Those proposed changes are expected in the form of a master plan that Ashkenazy originally said it would release in the spring of 2012.

"We're continuing to work diligently on it and hope to have an unveiling soon," Keefe said. "We're trying to be extremely thoughtful on this process and make sure we come out with the best product."

A spokesman for the Boston Redevelopment Authority said it anticipates seeing a master plan this fall and looks forward to "working with the merchants of the marketplace and Ashkenazy on next steps."

Ashkenazy pitched plans last year to add a pair of two-story tenant additions encased in glass "sheds," along with two escalators, to the Quincy Market building, but the city's Landmark Commission panned the proposal. The real estate investment firm is not proceeding with the addition "in that form," according to Keefe, who declined further comment.

Ashkenazy also is seeking Landmarks Commission approval of the deck.

The Quincy Market building has historic landmark status, and the commission plans to study this year whether the South Market and North Market buildings also are worthy of the designation. The status affects proposed changes to buildings, plans for which are subject to the commission's review.

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Jaguar Coupe’s 
a sexy sportster

To say that the 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe is a head-turner would be an understatement.

During our four-day trial, this sexy sportster was subjected to catcalls, oglers, hoots and hollers whether parked or rolling through town.

This coupe screams "look at me!" Sporting a gorgeous front grille, sleek profile, shapely sides and a well-rounded backside, this Jaguar is a tantalizing hot rod that fascinates anyone it passes.

Retractable door handles and a rear spoiler that automatically rises at speeds of over 70 mph add to its already aerodynamic body.

Beautiful 19-inch black centrifuge alloy wheels give the salsa red exterior a striking contrast that will get you noticed.

And if they don't see you coming, they'll hear you.

The roar of the F-Type's switchable active twin exhaust yowls with a loud throaty roar, which gives way to a barking burble when stepping off the accelerator.

If you prefer a bit more stealth, you can lower the volume of the exhaust with the flick of a switch. But seriously, who would want that?

Stimulating steering and a heart-pounding 340-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine make this two-seater exciting to drive. A punch of the gas pedal puts you well over the speed limit in a flash — the F-Type's speed combined with its bright red exterior will certainly attract law enforcement. Somewhere there are pin-up posters of this car in police departments.

This Jaguar's suspension keeps you glued to every bend in the road.

The F-Type's dynamic mode gives you all the thrills without having to manage the 8-speed Quickshift transmission. Manual override is also possible with both steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and drive selector control. The dynamic mode does seem to use more gas, so don't expect to get 28 miles per gallon on the highway with a lead foot.

With an MSRP of $77,375 as tested, the F-Type has 14-way adjustable bucket seats that are both supportive and comfortable. Seating is very low to the ground with a great feel for the car's center of gravity. Visibility was surprisingly good in spite of a small rear view mirror and window. One puzzling omission is the lack of a back-up camera. With such a beautiful car, you would want every chance to keep its exterior scratchless.

The stitched leather interior is also pretty. It has a smart look and good ergonomics, but a clumsy GPS/entertainment interface that is a real let down. A Meridian sound system pumps 380 watts into the cockpit and sounded great doing it, but quite frankly the exhaust sound is more fun to hear.

The bottom line is that the F-Type is the red-hot roadster that will make your friends jealous. Of course, you can share the experience with them — one at a time. Just tell them to leave the luggage home as this coupe has virtually no room for bags.

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The Ticker

Goldman Sachs in $1.2B settlement with feds

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has agreed to a settlement worth $1.2 billion to resolve a U.S. regulator's claims the bank sold Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac faulty mortgage bonds, the regulator announced yesterday.

Under the settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the conservator for the two government-controlled mortgage finance companies, Goldman Sachs said it agreed to pay $3.15 billion to repurchase mortgage-backed securities from Fannie and Freddie. The FHFA, which valued the settlement at $1.2 billion, said the accord "effectively makes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac whole on their investments in the securities at issue."

Fed review of report of cod decline in Gulf of Maine set to begin

Regulators are set to begin reviewing a report that says the amount of cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine is at an all-time low.

Scientists at the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service said the amount of cod spawning in the gulf is estimated to be only 3 percent to 4 percent of its target level. Their updated assessment of the Gulf of Maine cod fish stock could be used to create new regulatory measures for the fishery, but it must first be peer reviewed. An assessment oversight panel was to meet with peer reviewers and New England Fishery Management Council staff yesterday to begin that process. The peer review is set to take place next week, Aug. 28 and 29 in Portsmouth, N.H.

Google buys Gecko Design

Google has acquired Gecko Design, which will become part of the Internet company's unit developing cutting-edge products such as Glass and balloons for Internet access. Terms of the deal, announced yesterday, were not disclosed. Gecko President Jacques Gagne and its four other employees will join Google's "X" research division next month. In addition to Glass and Internet balloons, other projects at Google X include self-driving cars and contact lenses for measuring blood glucose levels.

Gecko, founded in 1996 and based in Los Gatos, Calif., could help Google in the physical design of these products as Google expands beyond software. Products designed with Gecko's services include the wearable Fitbit activity tracker, Hewlett-Packard computer towers and laptops, and low-cost computers for Third World countries from the One Laptop per Child project.

•  CBRE/New England has announced Meredith Christensen, left, has joined its Boston office as vice president with the urban brokerage team in New England. Christensen is a 13-plus-year veteran of the business, specializing in leasing laboratory, office, industrial and retail assets. Christensen was most recently a vice president of asset management, LEED A.P. at Jamestown L.P., an owner and operator of assets in core urban markets throughout North America. In this role, she directed a 1.4 million-square-foot redevelopment project in Boston's Seaport District.

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Massachusetts seeks new tech ideas

After a series of botched technology projects, the state has announced a $50,000 competition to attract new ideas and technologies to help Massachusetts government become more efficient, save money and engage with the public in innovative ways.

Although the MassIT Government Innovation Competition is open to any startup and is expected to have its own panel of judges, the one or more winners will be announced in October at the awards ceremony for MassChallenge, the world's largest startup accelerator and competition, and will have access to the mentorship it offers, said Bill Oates, the state's chief information officer.

"Our partnership with MassChallenge allows us to leverage one of the most highly regarded organizations around with a focus on innovation and take advantage of the companies it's vetted," Oates added. "But we've left (who applies) purposely wide open."

The deadline for applications, which can be found at www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1772448/MassIT-Sidecar-Application, is Wednesday.

The competition comes on the heels of a string of costly technology disasters for the state. Only last week, officials announced they would seek another $80 million in federal funding for a new, state-based Obamacare website, bringing the total cost of the problem-plagued project to a whopping $254 million.

And in April, the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee released a report on the state's botched launch of a new computer system for unemployment claims, as well as a Department of Revenue technology project so problematic that the agency fired its vendor after spending three years and $55 million.

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Obama urges renewal of US Export-Import Bank

EDGARTOWN, Mass. — President Barack Obama is trying to rally support for a taxpayer-subsidized bank that he says creates jobs.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama urges business owners to lobby Congress to renew the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

The bank provides loans, loan guarantees and credit insurance to foreign buyers of U.S. products. But it will cease functioning unless Congress renews its charter before October. Some Republican lawmakers who supported the bank in past years now want to put it out of business.

In the Republican address, party chairman Reince Priebus (ryns PREE'-bus) says there will be less government spending, flexible health care and better education under complete GOP control of Congress. The party needs to pick up six seats in the November elections to win back the Senate.

___

Obama's address: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Republican address: https://www.youtube.com/user/gopweeklyaddress

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The Ticker

State auditor reviews workers' comp system

A new state audit has made recommendations to improve accountability and efficiency in the workers' compensation system.

State Auditor Suzanne Bump said yesterday that her office's review found that the Department of Industrial Accidents, which oversees the system, does not ensure that assessments paid out by insurance companies are accurate.

Bump said the audit has already led to a number of improvements at the department, including the hiring two internal auditors to review insurance assessments. The audit examined fee collections, claims payments, and internal procedures from July 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2012.

All private employers in Massachusetts are required to carry workers' compensation insurance and pay claims by individuals through a commercial insurance policy, self-insurance, or membership in a self-insurance group.

Consumers save $25.9M in sales taxes

Consumers saved an estimated $25.9 million in foregone sales tax during last weekend's sales tax holiday, according to the state Department of Revenue, which will issue a report on the impacts as part of a December certification process. The foregone sales tax revenue was greater last weekend than the $24.6 million in 2013 or any year prior, according to data provided by spokeswoman Maryann Merrigan. Some form of tax free holiday has occurred every year since 2004, except 2009.

DOR is also planning a tax amnesty program in December. The program was ordered in the annual budget, and proponents say they hope it will bring an influx of revenues without the need to raises taxes. Eligible individual or business taxpayers will receive a notice in the mail and will have a window from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 to pay back taxes with interest, while avoiding penalties.

Porter Airlines to increase service
between Boston and Toronto

Porter Airlines will increase service between Logan International Airport and Canada's Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Sept. 20. The Toronto carrier will add a sixth roundtrip flight on Sundays between the two cities and a fourth Toronto-to-Boston flight on Saturdays, for four full round-trips on that day. The low-cost carrier started flying out of Logan in 2009.

•  Rodman & Rodman, P.C., an independent accounting and tax firm located in Newton, has promoted Leah Shanahan, left, to manager. A certified public accountant, Shanahan previously held the position of supervisor for seven years. In her new role as manager of the business services team, she will provide audit and tax services to a diverse client base and help lead the firm's software advisory and support team.

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Market Basket deal could extend beyond today’s 5 p.m. deadline

The parties negotiating the sale of Market Basket — facing a self-imposed deadline of 5 p.m. today — are signaling talks may spill into the weekend, with sources on both sides saying they're close to an agreement, but are wading through a series of complex deal points.

Ousted former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas and his rival cousin Arthur S. Demoulas, Market Basket's controlling shareholder, maintained their weeklong silence yesterday, but sources briefed on the negotiations told the Herald that the passing of today's deadline won't necessarily mean talks are dead.

One source said the parties are still working toward today's deadline — agreed to after a five-hour session with Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan on Sunday — but that if the sides remain close, it's "very possible" talks would extend into the weekend.

Kevin Griffin, publisher of the Griffin Report of Food Marketing, said he continues to hear the sides are "trying to finalize the bid and work out the details.

"But again, this is just weeks and weeks on end," Griffin said. "I believe it's happening, that's what I understand. I think that the past week has been probably more movement than there's been in the past four."

Speaking to reports Wednesday, Patrick said the parties left Sunday's conversation "feeling hopeful that a resolution was within reach" and that he asked them to consider an internal deadline because "there are a number of issues that could be debated endlessly."

Griffin said there have been few indicators two read into this week "except for the fact that we don't have the board coming out and talking about shutting stores and firing people, which leads me to believe that all the indicators are in place that they're getting close."

Sources have told the Herald talks have focused partly on how much Arthur T. and his backers are willing to put down up front, and the schedule on which future payments would be made. The unknown backers, sources told the Herald, would want assurances store revenue can return to where it was prior to when protests began more than a month ago.

The 71-store Market Basket chain has been hemorrhaging millions a day since managers and workers walked out in protest of Arthur T.'s ouster more than a month ago. Some vendors have stopped doing business with the company and are saying they won't come back unless Arthur T. returns.

The nearly five-week impasse has raised questions about whether Arthur T. will be able to quickly generate enough revenue to satisfy creditors while keeping all stores open and their 25,000 employees on the payroll — all while maintaining the chain's signature low prices that drive customers' fierce loyalty.

"I don't know, but if I were a betting man, I'd say that there will be no layoffs," Griffin said. "My guess is he will forgo short-term profits ... because it would be instrumental to the momentum that he needs to get the place in order."

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MassBio: Seed-stage funds slow

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council is sounding a warning over seed-stage funding — the earliest form of investment in startups — saying recent dips could hurt innovation in the long run, according to its latest report on the health of the state's biotech industry.

The Bay State leads in research and development jobs, in addition to federal research funding and venture capital invested per capita, but seed-stage funding needs to approach
$200 million this year to ensure a strong startup environment into the next decade, according to the 2014 MassBio Industry Snapshot.

"Massachusetts' strength in the life sciences depends on its vibrant startup and early-stage research activities, but funding for those activities — the fuel for industry growth here — is getting more difficult to come by," Robert K. Coughlin, MassBio's president and CEO, said in a statement. "We must find new avenues for companies seeking seed funding to ensure life-changing treatments make it ... into the hands of patients in need."

Seed-stage deals have grown from 20 deals totalling $52 million from 1999 to 2003 — when Massachusetts companies received 13.1 percent of all biotech seed funding in the U.S. — to 95 deals totalling 
$761.91 million from 2009 to 2013, when Bay State startups received 33.4 percent.

While that's good news, seed-stage funding has dropped since the 2008-to-2010 highs — when they totaled $275.89 million, $265.54 million and 
$177.92 million, respectively — to $148.10 million last year.

Still, other industry statistics look positive. Although research in the Impact 2020 report shows biotech venture investment overall is decreasing, last year Bay State venture investment increased to $984 million, with the state receiving more than 21 percent of all VC investment in biotechnology in the U.S.

The industry's economic impact as measured by Massachusetts-based payroll also topped $7.2 billion, with biopharma employment reaching 57,642 in 2013, an increase of almost 1,200 jobs over the previous year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

Employment in the industry has grown nine to 10 times faster than state and national employment growth rates.

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State probe: No price-gouging at other local supermarkets

Customers avoiding Market Basket are complaining about the prices at other grocery stores, but a state investigation found no evidence of price-gouging at the Tewksbury chain's competitors.

"We did send inspectors out to look and see if there was anything funky with the prices," said Amie O'Hearn, spokeswoman for the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. "Prices are naturally higher at other chains, but we didn't find anything out of the ordinary."

This month's survey, which looked at a selection of food and grocery items in several areas where stores compete with Market Basket, did not reveal any wide price discrepancies, O'Hearn said.

Market Basket shoppers have been boycotting or otherwise steering clear of its 71 stores amid employee protests that started July 18 in support of fired CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. Market Basket's stores — known for their low prices — now are largely empty of customers and perishables.

Although the state hasn't received complaints alleging price-gouging, shoppers are venting their frustrations about higher prices on social media.

But "limited assortment supermarkets" are lower-priced alternatives to Market Basket, according to a survey by Somerville consumer advocate Edgar Dworksy. He checked prices of almost 24 common store-brand items on Aug. 6 at Market Basket, Stop & Shop and Save-a-Lot stores in Chelsea, Star Market in Somerville, Aldi in Medford and Price Rite in Revere. Aldi had the lowest prices, with the items costing 17 percent less than
Market Basket. Price Rite and Save-A-Lot were about 10 percent cheaper than Market Basket.

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Biotech $ barometer

Total Massachusetts seed-stage funding 
by year:

1999: $11,395,000

2000: $5,040,000

2001:$3,019,900

2002: $27,600,000

2003: $5,000,000

2004: $6,750,000

2005: $15,799,800

2006: $48,201,000

2007: $90,334,100

2008:$275,896,900

2009:$265,548,900

2010:$177,925,000

2011:$117,126,000

2012: $53,707,500

2013:$148,105,000

Source: PWC MoneyTree

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