Strengthening the Urban Harbor: Policy & Investment Recommendations for Boston's Working Ports

Abstract

Overview of the StudyBoston's working ports, much of which lie in Designated Port Areas (DPAs), face unprecedented challenges. Competing regulatory, economic, and real estate priorities in Greater Boston have subjected these vital maritime industrial zones to enhanced political scrutiny and significant market pressure. These challenges are not all unique to Boston; working waterfronts across the country and the world are grappling with similar pressures as cities seek to balance maritime industrial uses, which can have regional economic importance, with valuable waterfront urban development and public access to the water, which create more local value. In Boston, this pressure has led to legislative attempts to circumvent established State industrial land use policy by removing areas from a DPA to realize other local economic and community development priorities. Unfortunately, once waterfront industrial land is converted to other uses, it is effectively impossible to restore its maritime industrial capacity.The Boston Waterfront Partners (BWP) is a coalition of non-profit organizations and non-profit community-based organizations dedicated to the sustainable development and equitable use of Boston's waterfront areas. Recognizing the importance of the region's maritime industrial economy and the needs of waterfront communities, BWP has taken a proactive approach to addressing the complex challenges facing DPAs.The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) conducted a comprehensive statewide analysis of DPAs. To complement and inform this broader effort, BWP initiated a focused study of Boston's four Inner Harbor DPAs: South Boston, East Boston, Mystic River, and Chelsea Creek—all part of the Mystic River Watershed. This targeted approach allows for a deeper examination of the unique conditions and challenges facing these specific areas in Boston's evolving urban landscape.The study provides an initial roadmap for the stewardship of Boston's working waterfront, ensuring that these vital economic assets continue to thrive while meeting adjacent communities' needs for open space and adapting to 21st-century environmental and economic needs. The study team employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data analysis, qualitative stakeholder engagement, and case study research