Boston's Seaport district looks a little different than the rest of South Boston.
“It’s so glamorous. It’s like a casino. Everything is lit up, the architecture’s gorgeous,” said James Gerraughty, a life-long Southie resident. “People want to just go there because it’s gorgeous.”
But unlike the rest of Southie, the Seaport is missing some of the basics of city life, including a public library, a school, a place to vote and a full-service supermarket. City officials say that must change.
“Not having a police station, fire station, and EMS location here is a concern,” said Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents South Boston.
Besides lacking emergency management services, Flynn said he is also concerned about the lack of other amenities in the area, because he expects the number of Seaport residents — now at about 10,000 — to double over the next several years.
“Residents want basic city services down here,” Flynn said.
Flynn said he will work with City Councilors Michelle Wu and Michael Flaherty to figure out how to get more services into this new neighborhood.
But there are two lingering questions: Who is moving into the Seaport? And how important are things like schools and supermarkets to those residents?
Melinda Davala-Sarkis, a realtor with Coldwell Banker, said she has a Seaport property on the market now for $8 million, and she said that’s not unusual. Some potential buyers ask about things like schools and grocery stores.
“Yes, those things do come up and some are not here yet,” said Davala-Sarkis. “But it’s like Vegas — build and they will come.”
Davala-Sarkis described the demographic who consider making the Seaport home.
“It’s really a big mix of people, actually,” she said. “You’ll have everything from families to young professionals. You have empty-nesters who are moving in, [and] there’s a really big international group that’s coming.”
Putting more public amenities into the Seaport will cost taxpayers money. But Gerraughty says residents here are paying their fair share.
“[The Seaport] brings tax revenue,” Gerraughty said. “We have tourists that come there and spend money. It helps our schools.”
Right now, police and fire stations, along with a library, are situated in other parts of South Boston.
Trader Joe’s is looking to open the Seaport’s first grocery store. In the coming months, Boston City Council plans to convene a hearing on bringing more services to the district.
This article has been updated.
