South Boston Land Development
Project Background
The completion of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project removed the barriers to development in what is known variously as the South Boston Waterfront or the South Boston Seaport District. Long home to Boston institutions like the Children's Museum and Anthony's Pier 4, the neighborhood has more recently become home new landmarks like the Boston Convention and Exposition Center (BCEC) and the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Private development – including new housing – planned along the Fort Point Channel, Seaport Boulevard and Summer and Congress Street will further enliven the neighborhood. The City of Boston is also promoting the area aggressively, creating a 1,000-acre Innovation District along the waterfront and offering start-up companies grants to relocate there.
The South Boston Waterfront has the potential to become a dense, lively new part of Boston. But in order to realize that potential, the neighborhood needs to strong links to the transit system.
Why It's Important
According to studies conducted by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, the South Boston Waterfront is expected to see 16-21 million square feet of new development over the long term. That development is expected to generate $100-120 million in annual property tax revenues for the city and could also bring up to 15,000 new residents and up to 35,000 new jobs. The BCEC is also contemplating a major expansion, which would bring more conventioneers into the district. All of these developments will create new demand for transit to connect residents, commuters and visitors to the rest of Boston and the region.
ABC's Role
In 2005, ABC sponsored, in collaboration with the Boston Redevelopment Authority's Crossroads Initiative, a South Boston Waterfront Gateways Study which examined four major boulevards in the neighborhood and proposed measures to better integrate them into the rest of the city. The study group worked closely with the Initiative "to identify the relevant issues and then craft a series of appropriate streetscape improvements." ABC continues to be actively involved with the Initiative, serving as a liaison between the BRA and the businesses and property owners abutting the affected streets.
In order to best support the development occurring in the district, A Better City has organized a South Boston Stakeholders Committee. Jim Rooney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), chairs this group of businesses, developers and other stakeholders, which meets to discuss issues, address challenges and remove roadblocks to development in the area.
ABC continues to advocate for transportation projects that would strengthen the transit links between the South Boston Waterfront and the rest of the region. Completing Phase 3 of the Silver Line would create continuous route between the South Boston Waterfront and Dudley Square via Washington Street. And the Urban Ring would provide additional Bus Rapid Transit Service, creating a one-seat ride from the neighborhood to the other "spokes" of the MBTA system.
ABC is also actively involved in the MCCA’s T5 Campaign: a push to make Boston a top five destination for conventions by potentially expanding the BCEC. ABC is actively involved in the T5 task force examining the transportation and urban planning issues involved in such an expansion.
