A glimpse of where it started and the vision of today
The Seaport along Boston’s waterfront, just across from downtown and not far from the airport, the Seaport District has become is one of the city’s most growing neighborhoods. This area stretches from the harbor to Fort Point Channel and into South Boston to East and West First Streets. It includes the four neighborhoods of Fort Point, Fan Pier, the Convention Center, and the Marine Industrial Park. And while a couple of hundred years ago you might not even be looking for this neighborhood at all, the Boston Seaport is gaining momentum and popularity as one of the hippest hoods in the city. For those who live here, there’s hope this blooming sector of Boston will soon rival the city’s other beloved neighborhoods. You will find trendy retail shops to delicious restaurants and lively bars, but for me the new Equinox at Seaport is it’s gem. The Seaport District is a great place for locals to spend a Saturday afternoon and visitors to add to their itinerary. The Institute of Contemporary Art, known as ICA, attracts those interested in arts and culture and new businesses are spurring activity in this once over-looked neighborhood. History of the Seaport District
From a muddy slab to a haven for factories to a trendy neighborhood, Boston’s Seaport District has gone through its ups and downs. Today, everyone including tourists alike are drawn to the Seaport District and its energetic, artsy and eclectic persona.
Over 100 years ago, what is now the Seaport District was just a murky slab in the Boston Harbor. According to historical accounts, much of it was actually under water up until about the 1800s. Like many harbors throughout America, its usefulness caused a surge of activity in the early 20th century when ships began delivering raw materials to the emerging factories in the area. It wasn’t long before the Seaport District was a bustling commercial port, ripe with opportunity and activity.
Menino’s Vision of a Much-Needed Revitalization
Despite the growth seen in earlier times, the mid 1950-60’s saw factories either closing down or moving somewhere else. Much of the area declined, leaving what many referred to as a desolate wasteland of empty parking lots and abandoned warehouses. A decade or two later, somewhere in the vicinity of 1968, the once bustling district turned ghost town caught the attention of Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston’s 53rd mayor. While Mayor White our 51st Mayor was instrumental in initiating the redevelopment of the Seaport District; but the area’s true champion was Mayor Tom Menino, who was the city’s true visionary.
Menino pushed for construction of both the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the Institute of Contemporary Art. He even proposed to move City Hall from its current location to the Seaport. He branded the area the “Innovation District” and influenced the creation of a tech hub that would soon rival Cambridge.
In 1990-95’s, the Seaport District received another boost when the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse moved in. This was not only an indication of the renewed importance of the once-rundown district, but also a grand statement of how the area’s natural beauty could complement and enhance architecture. The new federal courthouse is a brilliant structure that features a 90-foot-tall glass wall that overlooks a park and the harbor. This building paved the way to signified that the district would soon be a force to be reckoned with. The neighborhood would deliver a place for business, leisure and fun.
It was soon after that the Seaport District welcomed a new milestone to its list of accomplishments. This one came in the form of the new I-93 and I-90 interchanges, connecting downtown with the district and giving people from all corners of the city a quick and easy way to get there. It didn’t take long for Boston residents and visitors to come and when they did, hotels, the Institute of Contemporary Art, numerous offices, co-working spaces, retail outlets and residences came too. The Fort Point warehouses soon became the new home for many tech companies and art and photography studios who ditched the more expensive rents in Cambridge for this up and coming alternative.
If you are planning to move to this bustling area some tips to consider median rent: Newcomers should be able to find a one bed, one bath home for around $3,000-$4000 per month.
Median home price: $2.0M
Typical homes in the neighborhood: Apartments inside older, low-rise industrial warehouses, new condo buildings, luxury high-rises and waterfront properties. New construction is on the rise in the Fort Point/Seaport District, so expect to find plenty of brand-new luxury buildings with views of the Boston Harbor with a much more significant price point.
The area targets young professionals, wealthy executives, well-to-do empty nesters and artists. It has become the fast-growing area and has quickly become one of Boston’s hottest neighborhoods.
Rapidly becoming a popular attraction among visitors, and already a favorite of Boston locals, the Seaport District offers an array of experiences. Enjoy walks along the waterfront on nice days, shop for a trendy – unique treasures, sample the cuisine and explore the ICA’s collection of masterpieces.
The Ultimate in Sightseeing – Whether you enjoy learning about the art, culture, history or uniqueness of a city while traveling, the historic Seaport District has something to explore.
Institute of Contemporary Art – The ICA is a masterpiece on the inside and out. Its intriguing architecture alone is enough to beckon visitors. The building juts out over the water and is made of metal and glass, creating a striking presence on the waterfront. Interestingly enough, they have a variety of monthly exhibits that is family friendly year-round. Whether you enjoy artistic pursuits or not, a visit here is never wasted.
Museums and Concert Venues – Also located in the Seaport District are the Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Fire Museum, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion.
Harbor Cruises – A must for all hop aboard a harbor cruise for a few hours of sightseeing. Choose among the lunch and dinner options or be entertained by a specialty cruise ranging from comedy and themed festivities to cocktail parties and more.
Dinner and a View – One of the best ways to experience the freshness and vibrancy of the district itself is through a hearty meal. The area has become a true mecca of dining opportunities, all providing dishes as delicious as the views. There are more waterfront dining venues in the Seaport district than anywhere else in Boston. High end, relaxed and casual and every atmosphere in between serving up breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and late night, the Seaport District dining scene doesn’t disappoint.
Health and Rejuvenation –
For me, it’s work hard – play hard and decompress even harder!! The best of the best for wellness at Seaport is the new Equinox at Seaport. This place has Sweeping harbor-front views anchor our newest Boston club, set in the city’s innovative Seaport district. Equinox Seaport offers a wide array of Group Fitness classes, Cycling Studio, Pilates Studio and breath-taking Yoga Studio. A must try place, you will be intoxicated with the atmosphere and vibes from all the instructors and staff. The Spa here is truly a magnificent place to unwind, relax and rejuvenate. While the Seaport offers other studio’s, such as Soul Cycle, Corepower Yoga and Title Boxing all these studio’s while albeit, excellent in their niche, but why not go to a place that has it all under one roof and shopping too… don’t forget to stop at the Equinox Shop.
If you take a stroll down Seaport Boulevard in Boston, you might come across statues that look like what you’d see inside a kaleidoscope. They’re all part of the latest art installation that has come to make one of Boston’s trendiest neighborhood even trendier. Air, Sea, Land is the largest to-date project of Okuda San Miguel, an artist originally from Santander, Spain. The installation was inspired by the Seaport’s location, right on Boston’s waterfront, where air, sea and land all coexist, and it features six -seven vibrantly-colored sculptures strategically placed along the median at Seaport Blvd. Okunda San Miguel in a statement describes his mission was to transform these spaces in a way that further enhances the passerby’s experience, his claim is that his aim was to create vibrant places that are filled with color and positivity. San Miguel wants people to stop looking at the pavement and start looking up and around. The statues create an art corridor of sorts, stretching down a section of Seaport Blvd. People are sure to look up at the statues, which range from 8 to 12 feet in height and explore some of Okuda’s favorite themes – the concept of life and coexistence, and the mythological edge where the animal kingdom encounters the human world. The project was created in partnership with creative house Just kids and property developer WS Development to unite and anchor the Seaport neighborhood.
