Central Square as a whole is much ‘nicer’ than it was in the past, if perhaps lacking a bit of character. However, the area immediately surrounding Carl Barron plaza has gone downhill over the past several years and during Covid. The police put a substation there for optics, but there is not really a regular, active police presence in this area.

Starbucks closed as a direct result of crime in the area. Drug use is rampant in Carl Barron plaza in the surrounding area. An area that was previously safe for our children to walk through alone no longer is. Counselor McGovern and others have a lot to answer for as the decline of this area began when the needle exchange opened on Green street.

Darwin’s closed because the owner decided to retire. That part of the square is pretty gentrified, so crime had nothing to do with that.

Overall, Central is still a great neighborhood IMO.