By Becky Bedwell, vice president of development, Cottonwood Group As one of Boston’s fastest-growing and most dynamic areas, the Seaport District has gotten a lot of attention as it has undergone a multitude of transformations over the past 150 years. The area has evolved from a bustling railyard and shipping area in the early 20th century to a no-man’s land of parking lots in the 1990s to its most recent iteration: The Innovation District. While the spotlight is only growing brighter as several high-profile residential and mixed-use projects come on line in this distinctive and in-demand neighborhood, the headlines tell only part of the story. The Seaport District’s seemingly sudden emergence is the result of more than a decade of development and over $22 billion in public funding — efforts that have helped draw hundreds of new businesses and support a growing list of noteworthy developments. The challenges faced and opportunities realized by developers in this part of town reveal some important truths about what it takes to create great civic spaces and successful multifamily developments — not just in this city and this area, but in urban communities around the country. What follows are some best practices, consideration and …
