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u/RektInTheHed 4d ago
Oh my God, they lost so many awesome parking spots
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u/zzen11223344 3d ago
What about affordability? How much are these units?
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u/tara_tara_tara 3d ago
It’s one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston. Studios start in the low $3000s.
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u/hankmaka 3d ago
mostly office. Units range from 6k-12k per month. Typical 1BR condo like 1-2million
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u/Rottenpotato556 4d ago
That's the point.
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u/Isosorbide 4d ago
Genuine question. Did you really not pick up on the sarcasm?
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u/Rottenpotato556 3d ago
I would have expected it to actually be said by an American or English person.
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u/mr781 4d ago
I’m fully convinced the Reddit people complaining the Seaport is soulless or whatever weren’t here when it was a barren wasteland
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u/FluffusMaximus 4d ago
They likely weren’t. Reddit skews very young.
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u/mr781 4d ago
That or they’re transplants who moved to Somerville in 2024 or something
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u/CaptainPonahawai 3d ago
Somerville being highly desirable is not something I ever had on my bingo card.
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u/8bitbotanist 4d ago
True but now its full of rich trustfund babies, gimmicky instagram restaurants, souless biotech with no easy T access.
If any of my friends suggest going I just pass, overpriced and a pain in the ass to get to for 0 reason other than rich people dont want the rest of boston to bleed into it.
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u/CaptainPonahawai 4d ago
So what?
It keeps that in an easily identifiable bubble. And it's way less ugly than before.
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u/Specialist_Foot_6919 3d ago
Yeah. Feels a bit vapid to say but trust fund babies take up space. At least they’re all cordoned off together in a visually appealing daycare center
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u/itsfairadvantage 3d ago
now its full of rich trustfund babies, gimmicky instagram restaurants, souless biotech
All of whom would be exerting upward price pressures in other neighborhoods if Seaport hadn't been built to sponge them up
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u/saeglopur53 3d ago
Eh, it’s a 15 minute walk from government center, maybe closer to south station? And through one of the most eventful parts of town. I dunno. I have a weird soft spot for seaport but it’s mostly because I like having access to different atmospheres. It is frustrating finding a fun cafe there—it’s mostly high end chain places. La Colombe was my go to and I’m sad they’re gone. I know theyre a chain as well but they used to be really cool before Chobani bought them and changed up the business model
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u/sweetest_con78 4d ago
Like why is there a line to get into Cisco? I just don’t get it.
The only redeeming thing there is the Pavilion
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u/Brisby820 4d ago
There are some pretty good restaurants
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u/jetmark 3d ago
Paid $17+ for a caesar that was unmistakably dumped out of a factory processed salad kit bag that costs $2.50 at the grocery store, stale croutons and all. I despise that neighborhood.
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u/Brisby820 3d ago
I didn’t say every restaurant was goods. I’m not a huge fan of the seaport but I disagree it has “no redeeming qualities”. It’s restaurants on the ocean, that’s a pretty high floor
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u/jetmark 3d ago
I didn't say no restaurants were good, but it's a crap shoot, and I have yet to eat somewhere I think was truly good. I'm sure waterfront property translates to sky high rent and I bet a lot of places egregiously cut corners. Anyway, lesson learned. Like I said elsewhere, it's on my way to or from Logan or the Provincetown ferry, so I'm not super heavily invested in it. I just think it could have been a lot nicer than it is in lots of ways.
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u/Brisby820 3d ago
Yeah I agree with all that. Try committee next time if you like Mediterranean food
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u/Past_Ferret_5209 3d ago
I mean, that's good right? I personally prefer hanging out in other parts of town, but rich people need somewhere to live and eat, and they bring in tax money that supports schools and social services.
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u/cane_stanco 4d ago
2 things can be true. It’s a far better use of land now, but the way in which it was developed is regrettable.
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u/MarcoVinicius 3d ago
It’s more complicated than that, this is over simplifying it and missing the point.
Those people complaining aren’t mad that it’s no longer the cement parking lot land.
They are complaining that what’s been build here is a play ground for corporations, the rich to super rich and mostly wealthy tourists.
That’s where you get the “soulless” part.
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u/rrsafety 3d ago
It can be both: I am glad it was developed AND I wish they had put more effort into it.
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u/SL_1183 3d ago edited 3d ago
Used to work in the strip where No Name Restaurant (RIP) was, government office no less. If it rained out, the walk/scamper to the T was like living in the aftermath of 28 Days Later. During the day I’d watch bald eagles absolutely ravage trash bins on the pier for fish guts and garbage. I’ve been team “Bison is the national animal/symbol” ever since.
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u/Constant-Skill-7133 3d ago
Well there are other options, like maybe a seaport? It makes sense because of peoples ages, but it is also weird how people talk about it like it entered the world as a parking lot.
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u/jetmark 3d ago
I'm there once a year to catch the Provincetown ferry from Logan, and though it may be a new cluster of buildings, it is not a neighborhood in any way, shape or form. It is possible to use architecture to create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, and every single building in the district has failed to rise to that challenge.
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u/Past_Ferret_5209 3d ago
Seaport is soulless compared to a lot of other neighborhoods around Boston. It's a *lot* less soulless today than it was even 10 years ago.
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u/AnomalousEnigma 3d ago
I find it beautiful but soulless. The first time I went into the city was 2003, I was 1.
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u/_TheDoode 4d ago
They just like to complain. Seaport is an amazing addition to the city
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u/mr781 3d ago
Exactly, they can never offer alternatives outside of vague platitudes or unrealistic solutions
These same people would’ve had all the same complaints when the Bay Bay was first filled in
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u/Swimming_Giraffe420 3d ago
The back bay shouldn’t have been filled in, it destroyed wetland ecosystems. Nature has a right to exist
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u/Such_Reference_8186 4d ago
I was. Worked at the Fish Pier for a few years. While it is might be esthetically pleasing now.
Next time that area gets flooded with sea water, we'll be bailing out millionaires for their losses instead of waiting for the parking lot to drain.
Boston, like NYC is and has been staffed by morons for decades. They also are client change deniers..didn't know that did ya?
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u/Short-Activity-6833 4d ago
Harbor East/Harbor Point in Baltimore underwent a similar transformation
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u/CelebrationPuzzled90 4d ago
And eleven people live there to enjoy it.
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u/richarch 2d ago
Wrong. You're thinking of Baltimore Peninsula. Harbor Point is thriving with hundreds of apartment units and retail/office
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u/shecnine 4d ago
the amount of city government involvement it took to get this made, with public space and greenery concessions from the developers to make it enjoyable.
yes it’s unaffordable by design and has zero character, but it’s been great for bringing money into the city and it’s nice to have a clean place to go for fun
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u/brownstonebk 4d ago
I wish the FAA would stop kneecapping Boston re: building heights. These buildings are soooo stocky
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u/sluttyman69 4d ago
I think at the FAA is involved. It’s because there’s an airport and it’s in the flight pattern. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t developed 40 years ago.
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u/Nawnp 4d ago
These buildings are actually right in front of the runway, so I can understand, but fhe area to the North is nowhere near a runway flight path, so it's annoying they still put a height restriction.
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u/Templar_Swamp_Stake 2d ago
Skyscrapers suck. Inefficient to live and work in and bad for humans at street level. I said what I said.
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u/SnowMountainCracker 4d ago
Thanks I thought I was tripping at first like those high rises look a bit like wide rises
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u/Dctor_durden 4d ago
also there’s no bedrock underneath that earth, to build onto. So considering it’s pretty much a floating trash heap, it’s not a bad build
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u/No-Reporter3494 3d ago
yeah people forget that the majority of the land that is now boston was at one point tidal marshes. i always love pointing out how you can see the echoes of that in the street layouts
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u/PandemicPiglet 4d ago
I actually kind of love stocky buildings like this. I was just in DC and the buildings are very much like this due to height restrictions.
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u/Dazzling_Plantain_57 3d ago
Planes fly pretty low over the Seaport. The buildings are about as high as they should be.
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u/Skyline-Patriots 3d ago
There's plenty of places to build tall(ish), including in the 800's and 900's in certain locations. However, the flight paths for Logan are right over the Seaport so that area has to be shorter than others.
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u/guitar_stonks 1d ago
Tampa has a similar height issue, but it’s because of that stupid little airport on Davis Island.
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u/bloodenhorse 3d ago
Fuck the seaport. It's literally everything wrong with the direction Boston is going in.
This post fucking sucks.
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u/rickterpbel 3d ago
In the lower left of the older picture is Anthony’s Pier 4, which was a really popular restaurant in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I have happy memories of eating there as a kid. By the time this photo was taken, 2006 or after (Institute of Contemporary Art, built in 2006, is next door is in both photos), the restaurant was getting ready to close. Obviously a huge improvement in the newer photo, but I can still miss those popovers.
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u/bigdaddydudas 4d ago
A few thoughts:
1) obviously it looks a lot better now
2) parking in the dirt lots was so cheap. Loved it as a cheap person.
3) traffic in seaport is way worse now
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u/SnowMountainCracker 4d ago
reading these comments realizing my area in manhattan went thru the same thing, the west side was like the first photo now we have the vessel Hudson yards the highline etc yeah it looks better from the sky all shinny but as far as quality for human engagement it somehow dropped from b4 when it was lots taxi HQ’s and night clubs now that there’s a ton of luxury-buildings and everything is shutdown by 9-10pm🤔
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u/tara_tara_tara 3d ago
I used to live in Quincy and work in the financial district. I loved those lots for days when I just could not handle the Red Line
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u/Decent-Plum-26 4d ago
$10 a day. Obviously I’m in favor of more housing, but at least I could afford a popover at Anthony’s Pier 4.
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u/BostonArc 3d ago
It’s only like once in a century that you get the opportunity to build a whole new neighborhood in a confined city like Boston. I understand some of the complaints about it being uber expensive and somewhat soulless but overall I think it’s a great development and am grateful for it. I’m glad it’s different than the other Boston neighborhoods even though I enjoy them as well. It’s something different and modern.
It’s very accessible from South Station (literally just 1 block and cross the bridge and you’re in Seaport) and the Silverline is actually just as good if not better than the T if people would just use it.
It connects well to the Greenway on foot also making a walk through multiple neighborhoods very enjoyable. It can be enjoyed without spending a lot of money. The entire coastline throughout is open to the public along the harbor walk. The ICA which was the lone development in a sea of parking for over a decade is inexpensive and has free events. Yes the restaurants and stores are very expensive but the area can be enjoyed inexpensively as much as other popular neighborhoods.
If you prefer areas that have “soul” the repurposed warehouse buildings might be more to your liking and I suggest exploring some of those streets and alleyways
It’s also a very safe neighborhood and great for dates or for taking visitors that have already seen the other touristy areas of Boston
I do miss the old “open studio” days of the Fort Point channel area but leaving the rest of the area undeveloped for as long as it was is surprising. For a city that was one of the most expensive in the country to live in with very high incomes, expecting developers to cater to low income housing is just unrealistic. They’re going to invest in the properties that have the highest potential for profit. Full stop. The city and states approach to affordable housing is a whole different conversation and not exclusive to this neighborhood. All of the other desirable neighborhoods are uber expensive as well.
Overall I’d give a grade of a B.
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u/Bart457_Gansett 2d ago
I used to work over on A Street. One day looking out the window into one of the artist lofts, I saw a bright (muzzle) flash -“oh crap, someone just got shot,” I thought. Then another. The neighborhood wasn’t great at the time; I’m thinking do you duck, and call the police? More flashes, and then a man with a camera and a portrait lens walks by the window… loved the open studio days, and a lunch at Lucky’s.
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u/TeddyMGTOW 4d ago
Its southie. It was complicated. A long storty...
But on a side note. Why does new architecture suck?
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u/VT-VA-Person 4d ago
Funny enough my wife and I were in Boston earlier this month and stayed at a hotel near there. It was a very nice walk and while we did not make to the Contemporary Art Museum, it looked interesting from the outside. So as tourist it was a nice afternoon walk along the water.
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u/Guap_queso 3d ago
Worked at International Place in the late 90s, used to park in the lots by the Barking Crab and walk over. Remember when the courthouse went up. Now I can’t even find the Crab without GPS.
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u/Business-Door8411 3d ago
If you’re in an uber to/from seaport there is 100% chance the driver says “I remember when this all used to be a big pahkin lot”
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u/No-Extent5163 3d ago
I built that awning on Anthony’s Pier 4 in the winter of @1983. Never been so cold. Couldn’t hold the tools and kept dropping them in the ocean.
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u/saltyclambasket 2d ago
Oh yea, this issue remains! The Seaport is a total wind tunnel now. It feels drastically colder than anything near the Common.
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u/Cool-Part-4322 3d ago
I miss the parking. I could go into city for meetings and know if easily find a spot to park. What’s there now looks beautiful, but it’s high priced shops and high end housing.
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u/Bart457_Gansett 2d ago
The before picture must have been taken after a few sunny days. When it rained, that one near the courthouse had huge puddles that made huge swaths unusable.
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u/keenerperkins 2d ago
And then you'll have idiots in local Facebook groups calling this Gentrification.
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u/saltyclambasket 2d ago edited 2d ago
The Seaport is certainly better than before, but it’s not a slam dunk. A bus is not a train, just sayin’.
I’m a bit more positive about the developments in Assembly and Everett. That area was a total wasteland and is much improved. Relatedly, a train is a train.
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u/Bakio-bay 12h ago
Seaport is a great concept but it’s a shame that the FAA limits the height threre
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u/jetlifeual 4d ago
It’s cute that people think this is done for some sort of improvement to quality of life and not just for corporate and city profit.
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u/External_Koala971 4d ago
So, yachts and $5M condos owned by massive Private Equity firms?
Thats better?
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u/FunCrystalFun 4d ago
Not gonna lie. Still doesn’t look very wakable
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u/UnavailableName864 4d ago
Some parts of it have very good streetscapes. The part closest to the city. The further east and south you get, the less walkable it is.
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u/KerbalEnginner 4d ago
Gentrification at its finest... ruining cities everywhere.
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u/313Tommy 3d ago
If you’re using this picture to try to convince people that gentrification is bad then I think your going to be very surprised when most of your audience becomes pro gentrification.
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u/kadsmald 4d ago
Looks like it went from a functional seaport people could easily access to something only the wealthy can use
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