With fewer hours of sun shepherding us into winter, Boston’s Seaport returns with the third annual Holiday Market shining its festive lights down on local artisans and makers. A must for tourists and Boston locals alike, it comes as no surprise that the market is a favorite for Seaport residents. It’s one of the many aspects that makes the neighborhood special for those who live there. 

Two Watermark residents reflect on their up-and-coming, community-focused neighborhood

For Gina Pina, a resident at Watermark Seaport, the market is more than just a holiday pastime. It’s her third year as a vendor at the market with her skincare business GP Organics Soulcare. Pina moved to the Seaport eight years ago as one of the first residents of the luxury apartment and started her business of handcrafted care products. 

A frequent visitor to the neighborhood, “I wanted to be a part of the new Boston,” says Pina. “As a mom, I wanted my kid to be in a safe environment that was very developed and had lots of luxury.” In what was once perceived as the place only for the “rich and popular” as Pina calls it, she has found opportunities for her business and family to thrive. “I feel comfortable, I feel accomplished.” 

The Holiday Market, like its summer counterpart, is a great space for shoppers looking to discover and support local businesses, and Pina shares that many gravitate to her products upon learning she lives across the street. For those looking for other options for shopping small businesses in Seaport, there’s also a rotating pop-up retail village known as The Current, now in its thirteenth rotation.  

Though the Seaport’s landscape has vastly expanded during her time there with new residential buildings popping up, Pina plans to continue living at Watermark. With countless amenities, new stores, and a wide array of restaurants nearby, “I feel like everything is in my lobby,” says Pina. Troublesome management can often be part and parcel of any big city living, and Boston is no different, however Pina has had a positive experience during her time at Watermark, which has a 24-hour concierge. “It’s so beautiful living here, and the staff are amazing,” she says. 

Unlike Pina, Shanelle Andres was relatively unfamiliar with Seaport prior to moving into Watermark with her husband and dog. Coming from Colombia, Andres spent much of her time around the Boston College campus and other parts of the city. In 2020, in search of a home together, Andres and her family chose Watermark. “We wanted a space that feels safe,” says Andres, “one that’s clean, and has a lot of stuff around us that we can enjoy and feel like we can build a home base around.”

A neighborhood once largely unknown in Andres’ social circles, “it feels like a very central spot for Boston,” she says, and her friends now prefer gathering in the Seaport. Whether trying a newly opened restaurant in the area, exploring the summer or winter markets, or going up to the Skydeck at the Watermark with its sweeping views of the city, there are countless ways to entertain friends. It’s also been a place for Andres to grow her community. 

As a pet-friendly building, Andres has made several friends with other dog parents. “Community building seems very much at the core of what is being developed here,” says Andres, and this is apparent with how the building considers the needs of its furry residents. Watermark offers amenities like a dog washing spa, access to the dog park at Sea Green from the building courtyard, and activities like a pet Halloween event and an information session by Red Dog. 

“Community building seems very much at the core of what is being developed here.”

Shanelle Andres

Watermark also offers opportunities for community-building through its fitness amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness facility alongside a wellness studio for yoga and group classes that are all free for residents. For those hoping for less active excursions, even a casual walk around the neighborhood is filled with wonderful sights. From street art and installations like “A Sea Bird” by Maria Molteni that fills a public basketball court, to sculptures like “Air Sea Land” by Okuda San Miguel that line Seaport Boulevard, the bright bursts of color soften a façade of buildings. 

“People can find different pieces of their identity in different elements of the Seaport,” says Andres. “It’s dynamic and changing all the time. There’s everything here, but also a bit of everything for everyone.”

VIA Residents contemplate the Seaport’s development into a mecca for culture, activity, and building connections 

For Jenny O’Donnell, two-year resident of the VIA, the Seaport Sweat series is a favorite to take advantage of during the summers with her friends. With free classes running from May through September on Seaport Common, it’s a must for those who love working out and being outdoors like O’Donnell. For the colder months, O’Donnell opts for the gym in her building, or one of the weekly Kick It By Eliza classes where she has the chance to meet other residents.   

Coming from the Greater Boston Area, O’Donnell knows that Seaport wasn’t always the bustling hub of innovation and community it is today. “My parents can’t believe what this area looks like now,” she shares, “and I can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve — it’s only going to get better with the way that they’re developing it.”

VIA resident, Marcus Williams, has been there since 2017 as the development boom was just kicking off. Reflecting on that time, Williams sees the very nature of a developing neighborhood as the crux for building connections. “It was so small [back then],” he says, “it was one big village and you truly knew everyone down here.” With new businesses and a growing number of residents in the new buildings, people coming into the neighborhood were there looking for connections.  

Those wanting for luxury will certainly look to the Seaport neighborhood as one of the best areas to live in Boston, but community remains at the core. “People are friendlier than you would think,” says Williams, “[they’re] more open to hanging out and socializing when we’re out walking dogs and walking around the boardwalk.”   

With its amenities reflecting back the values of the neighborhood it’s in, “VIA has the best of Seaport within it,” says Williams, “it’s a very forward-thinking building.” Similar to Watermark, VIA also has multiple spaces ideal for hosting friends alongside areas for remote work. Williams, who works from home twice a week, often makes use of the communal work spaces in the building that are outfitted with comfortable seating, and Hush Pods for when you need more privacy. “I think [VIA] really solves for what the Seaport was and what the Seaport’s going to be.” In addition to VIA and Watermark, The Alyx Residences offer modern, minimalist interiors, a friendly atmosphere, and a plethora of amenities including a fitness center, pool, conference rooms, a lounge, and dog-walking services. 

While the neighborhood has its own unique culture and vibe, the Seaport is decidedly connected to an array of transportation options, with ferry service from North Station, the Silver Line at Courthouse Station, and now the newly opened Summer Street Steps which provides central and accessible passage from South Boston. Above all, there’s a persisting intentionality towards a neighborhood that is as welcoming to its residents as its visitors.