Boston's Seaport District Still Lacking Diversity

Adrian Walker reports on Boston’s Seaport District and the findings of a survey that suggest diversity continues to be an issue for the new waterfront development area.

"A newly completed survey that asked 953 Boston residents their attitudes about the neighborhood found that, overwhelmingly, black residents feel less comfortable in the Seaport than white people do. Specifically, 24 percent of black respondents said they find the place unwelcoming, compared with a mere 6 percent of whites," says Walker.

The neighborhood is overwhelmingly white, reflecting economic factors, notes Walker. The housing is high end and expensive, developers included little affordable housing, and public transportation access is limited.

Public funds are behind Seaport, and the neighborhood should be available to all Boston residents, argues Walker. "Housing is still being built, so there’s still an opportunity to force developers to make more of it affordable. The public areas can be more clearly delineated, with activities that will attract more diverse audiences. Its transportation woes have to be addressed, and better access from Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan has to be part of that conversation."