Even though the organization no longer exists, Washington Gateway Main Streets (WGMS) banners still fly in areas of South End.

In March, 2024 the mayor’s office confirmed that WGMS was decertified and had not received any city funding.

WGMS program existed for over two decades and worked, to revitalize Washington Street, receiving national recognition for its accomplishments.

Despite its success the organization was quietly dissolved and, according to previous reporting from The Boston Guardian, left vendors looking to be paid.

Over a year later, residents of the South End are still seeing banners for the defunct organization flying across Washington Street.

“The banners need to come down,” said Randi Lathrop, a founder and 10-year board president of the organization. “It’s no longer a main street program representing parts of the South End. Having those banners up on the banner poles is confusing to the community.”

Lathrop says that she and others had been sounding the alarm on the fate of WGMS for some time before it was officially declared out of compliance, and that she has been trying to get the banners removed for at least a year.

The City’s Office of Small Business is currently working with a contractor to take the banners down, according to the mayor’s press office, who added that a majority of the banners have already been taken down.

A 311-ticket filed on August 4 requested that the signs be taken down, pointing out that the organization no longer exists. A photo attached to the ticket depicts a banner at the intersection of Washington and Waltham Streets.

That ticket was marked closed two days later with the response.

"Case Resolved | The best way to have this signage changed or removed is by contacting the organization in question and requesting a signage alteration from them. As they own the property against the curb, they have the right to request curb regulation changes from our signage team."

The umbrella organization Boston Main Streets Foundation, which oversees distribution of funds to Boston main street districts, also appears to still have WGMS listed as one it’s districts, despite its status.

Jonathan Alves, who briefly sat on the board of WGMS and is current president of the Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association, said that he hopes the banners would be replaced with something that is more reflective of the current state of the South End.

“There could be something artistic,” Said Alves, “or something connected to the South End Business Alliance that highlights some of the great things that the South End has, in particular that section of the south end, as it related to restaurants and art and history.”

Alves said that while it doesn’t seem to him like the South End needs WGMS any longer, he would like to see city funds formerly allocated to the organization stay in the South End for other nonprofits.

Sheila Grove, founder and former executive director of WGMS, said that due to the organization’s status, could not see why the banners should remain up except for the one that notes its national recognition.

Grove, who now sits on the board of the South End Business Association, added that she would also like to see some kind of banners posted across the neighborhood to show residents and visitors a kind of community identity. At time of writing, neither Boston Main Streets Foundation nor Bud Lareivy, former president of WGMS, responded to requests for comment.