Council Calls for Immediate Relief for Businesses Affected by Nubian Square Fire

The Council is calling for immediate financial, operational, and relocation assistance for businesses displaced by the six-alarm fire at the historic Edison Building in Nubian Square. The Council adopted an emergency resolution urging the City to provide assistance to affected businesses to protect jobs, livelihoods, and the economic vitality of Nubian Square.

The fire broke out at approximately 7:30 a.m. on September 28 at 72 Warren Street, within the commercial building extending from 62 through 78 Warren Street in the heart of Roxbury’s Nubian Square. The fire caused catastrophic damage to the building and the businesses operating inside. Although no occupants were reported to have been inside when the fire was discovered, several Boston firefighters sustained minor injuries while responding to the blaze.

The resolution expresses the Council’s gratitude to the Boston Fire Department, Commissioner Rodney Marshall, firefighters, and emergency personnel who worked for many hours under dangerous conditions, including heavy smoke, a persistent basement fire, concerns about structural collapse, and the weight of a large rooftop billboard. Fire officials reported that the businesses inside the Edison Building were completely destroyed and would effectively need to begin again from scratch, threatening the income of business owners and employees and the continued presence of longstanding neighborhood services.

Several of the affected businesses are Black- and Brown-owned or operated businesses that have invested in Roxbury, created employment opportunities, provided essential services, and contributed to the cultural and commercial vitality of Nubian Square. The resolution notes that small businesses can face significant challenges following the sudden loss of their premises, inventory, equipment, records, customers, and operating income during an extended closure or relocation.

The Edison Building itself is also an important part of Roxbury’s history. Constructed in 1923, the building formerly housed offices of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. It is documented by the Massachusetts Historical Commission as historic resource BOS.11407 and is located within the National Register-listed Dudley Station Historic District. The resolution notes that the building’s distinctive triangular form and prominent location have contributed to the historic character of Nubian Square for more than a century.

Existing City resources include technical assistance providers and the Community Development Block Grant-funded Neighborhood Business Access Program, which may provide eligible businesses with financing for working capital, equipment, business stabilization, and expansion. The Council’s resolution states that these resources alone may not be sufficient to address the immediate needs created by the fire.

The Council is urging the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, the Office of Small Business, and other appropriate City departments to provide the fullest possible assistance to displaced or damaged businesses, including emergency financial assistance, recovery planning, temporary relocation support, technical assistance, expedited City services, and access to eligible municipal, state, federal, nonprofit, and private resources.

The Council is also calling for coordination with the property owners and historic preservation agencies to evaluate the future of the Edison Building, preserve historically significant features wherever feasible, and provide displaced businesses with a meaningful opportunity to return to Nubian Square.