February 18, 2010

By Rick Winterson

Seaport Square is a very large mixed-use development proposed for the 23 acres commonly known as the “McCourt Properties”.  Its current status was presented by the developer, Gale International, at a community meeting last week in the Condon School.  The project was well-received.  Groundbreaking is slated for sometime in 2011.

Seaport Square is one of those decade long, multi-billion dollar, mega-projects that is very exciting to chronicle.  Equally as important, it will be an enormous source of badly needed jobs in South Boston and surrounding neighborhoods – estimates say that 10,000 construction jobs and 20,000 permanent jobs will be generated.  The developer, Gale International, led by CEO John Hynes III, presented an update on the project last Wednesday evening, January 27, at a BRA-sponsored community meeting in the Condon School.

South Boston Online first reported on the proposed Seaport Square development over two years ago (our July 12, 2007, issue).  The numbers reported then are still valid and still very impressive.

Seaport Square will occupy a 23-acre plot of ground that is shaped like an inverted letter “L” – property once owned by Frank McCourt.  The plot extends across the parking lots near Summer Street northerly to Seaport Boulevard and Northern Avenue.  The plot then turns left and extends along Seaport Boulevard and Northern Avenue to the edge of Fort Point Channel.

Some of the project’s numbers are nothing short of staggering.  The expenditure will be more than $3 billion ($3,000,000,000); the Seaport Square development, when complete, will total 6.5 million square feet.  The project will be truly “mixed”: 2,000 homes, business/research offices, retail/entertainment areas, an international school, a cultural complex, hotels, parking, and several acres of designed open spaces.  A new north/south road – Harbor Street – will tie the elevated Summer Street to the grade level Seaport Boulevard.

The figures quoted make Seaport Square the largest private development ever undertaken in Boston, and maybe all of New England.  Reaching back in history, the development of Back Bay is the only comparable event to Seaport Square, and that took 50 years to complete.  The retail areas in Seaport Square will be as large as the shopping complex in Copley Square.

Originally, Seaport Square was expected to be shovel-ready sometime in 2009, but the worldwide economic situation spoke otherwise.  The buildout was planned to take six years until 2015.  Now, the expected year for groundbreaking is 2011.  The environmental plan has been assembled.  A LEED designation of silver is targeted.

There are many interesting facts about the Seaport Square development.  The residences will have 15% designated as “affordable”, compared to a requirement of 10%.  In addition, another 15% of residences will be built as what’s called “workforce” homes.  These could be purchased by teachers, craftsmen, or nurses, which will contribute to the total diversity within Seaport Square.  A new Lady of Good Voyage Church will be built; improvements to the Children’s Museum’s grassy apron will be made; the funky, eclectic Barking Crab Restaurant will stay where it is.

The most interesting thing about Seaport Square is its overall concept – a concept called “The New, New Urbanism” by a recent article in Fast Company Magazine (February, 2010, page 88).  This article focused on the worldwide developments being planned by Stan Gale, the Chairman of Gale International.

In “new, new urbanism”, a development actually becomes a purpose-built, complete large neighborhood with its own infrastructure.  Workplaces and shopping are near to residences.  Each development has schools, culture, and extensive entertainment.  Therefore, it is busy and occupied morning, noon, and night.  From the git-go, these developments are green and totally wired – “smart” neighborhoods, in other words.  During his presentation here, Gale’s CEO John Hynes stated that high-tech businesses like life sciences have already inquired.  What used to border on science fiction will now become state-of-the-art in Seaport Square.

The total monetary benefits to Boston and Massachusetts in taxes, linkage, fees, and all of the “apples and oranges” may exceed $150 million in the startup years of the project.  Some of it will be one-time benefits; much of it will be ongoing.  The bricks-and-mortar library, cultural complex, open spaces, and Lady of Good Voyage Church will be urban amenities available to all.

The Condon School meeting was crowded.  John Hynes’s presentation was well received.  Emblems and lettering on caps and jackets made it obvious that numerous members of construction trade unions had shown up.  They were understandably interested in the jobs, and joined the other attendees in urging Gale International to get the project off the ground as soon as possible.