Can it be? Work begins to replace destroyed restaurant row in the Fenway

Actual progress on Peterborough Street today: A small team of workers began removing debris behind the mural-covered plywood to allow for more serious construction of a new building that will house up to nine restaurants.

84-100 Peterborough Trust, which owns the property, says it already has lease commitments from El Pelon, Thornton's Bar & Grill and Rod Dee Thai to return to the block, which went up in flames in January, 2009. An unnnamed Japanese grill and sushi bar also wants to move in, the trust said in a statement.

The owners hope to have a new building up within six months.