Amazon could add 900 jobs to Fort Point

Since there's no corresponding improvement in public transportation infrastructure for Amazon, or any of the other tens of thousands of jobs that have moved into the area.

How bad was traffic

By Waquiot
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 7:14pm

Back when Neighborhood Health Plan was in the building? I mean, this isn't new construction, just a new tenant.

Anyhow, good news for Boston.

Aren't they a terrible

By Scauma
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 2:05pm

Aren't they a terrible employer? That's been one of the few knocks on Amazon I can remember.

Depends what level employee you are

By mg
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 2:22pm

Warehouse work is brutal. OTOH, I have friends who have white collar jobs with them who are very please with their employer. From the article, it sounds like the new jobs will be skilled work.

NYT piece on Amazon and white collar

By anon
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:39pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/insi...

Business Day
Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace
The company is conducting an experiment in how far it can push
white-collar workers to get them to achieve its ever-expanding ambitions.
By JODI KANTOR and DAVID STREITFELDAUG. 15, 2015

Great addition to South

By Formerly-SoBo-Yuppie
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 2:36pm

Great addition to South Boston! Keep the companies coming!

- A South Boston community member

Do we know what the use of the space will be? Corporate offices, or a warehouse distribution center ? Or mixed? Just trying to figure what kind of jobs will be available. Maybe all the seasonal workers missing from the Cape this summer are holding out for Amazon.

Globe says they will be working on Alexa

By section77
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:22pm

They may need a few hundred more.

Definitely not a distribution

By ZachAndTired
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:27pm

Definitely not a distribution center, as those are mostly automated and wouldn't generate 900 jobs.

Judging from this quote in the article, it sounds like it will be mostly engineering jobs related to Alexa:

It plans to hire people to work on its Alexa voice-activated technology, logistics and other business lines.

That squares with what I've seen

By erik g
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 4:57pm

on job boards recently--they're hiring a ton of engineers to work on natural language processing and Alexa-related stuff for their Cambridge office. This would be a natural next step, spinning it off into its own group like IBM did with Watson a few years back. (Maybe they'll be more successful than Watson, come to think of it)

FWIW Watson now has a half a

By Muerl
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 10:42pm

FWIW Watson now has a half a building in Kendal Square.

Too many good jobs

By Gary C
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 2:58pm

It's a nice problem to have.

Makes me wish I was a youngster with tech skills. I'd probably be making more than I do as an old fart with management skills.

more jobs always good but

By hux
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:05pm

it's too bad the city has absolutely no idea what to do about the overburdened Silver line.

In 420 pages of Imagine Boston 2030, it's mentioned a whole 3 times, and they gloss over any issue by saying the entire South Boston Waterfront is walking distance from South Station or Broadway. Hah.

They also seem to perpetually think that extending the Fairmount line to the Seaport using Track 61 will magically solve all of the transportation problems in that area.

Walking distance in Boston

By Will LaTulippe
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:09pm

That's walking distance in July. Sure as hell ain't in February.

if it isnt 90...

By hux
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:53pm

...maybe on a 65 degree day, but try walking from SS to the IDB in work attire on 80 degree day.

Showers / Gyms

By anon²
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 4:44pm

Most of these places have amenities now a days. And places like Amazon Corp probably have lax dress codes.

A walk or run in is a great warmup, hit the gym, and get on with your day.

C'mon now

By hux
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:03pm

Yea yea I get it.

Let's get real though: I shouldn't be forced to take a shower after my commute.

This is a major city, and a part of the city that has seen incredible investment recently. It's profile is extremely high due to the continued arrival of great employers and company HQs. It has the BCEC and soon to be convention hotel. The World Trade Center is there, as well as a major outdoor concert venue.

All of this and you're telling me there shouldn't be reasonable transit? That everyone should just walk all the time from SS or even Broadway. Yea okay.

Big supporter of transit

By anon²
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:52pm

And alternative commuting options so no qualms there.

Let's get more!

But, the walk from anywhere is South Boston is usually pretty damn pleasant outside of a week or two per year.

It's why it's exploding after all; people realized it's got awesome parks, beaches, and main strip, and is walkable to all the other downtown neighborhoods and business districts.

I agree

By Felicity
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 7:54pm

Its a great walk from Southie to SS, except when the city neglects to remove ice and snow from sidewalks (and bike paths).

Hardly any funding for that

By anon
Thu, 07/13/2017 - 1:28am

You can say there should be more all you want, but at some point there isn't any funding, so you either have to deal with more transit or stop shoving growth everywhere.

Are you seriously in that horrible shape?

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 9:52am

Thousands of people walk that distance every day, in business clothing. Go watch. Go do it yourself.

If you sweat that much, it is because you are in horrible shape and need to do something about it.

Oh, look at Mr. Smug here

By adamg
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 10:56am

Some people just don't tolerate the heat (or the humidity) as well as you seem to be claiming, no matter how good shape they're in.

Adam ...

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 12:00pm

We are talking a quarter mile of walking from South Station. Tops.

If you can't do that on even the hottest day without needing a shower, you have a problem.

In shorts and a T, sure

By adamg
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 12:44pm

There's a difference between sweating and feeling winded or out of breath - sorry, but they're not necessarily related; some people just are better suited for cooler climes.

I hate humidity

By Waquiot
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 1:01pm

And the heat makes it worse. That said, in particular relation to where Amazon is going, this is not a long distance. Try Back Bay Station to Commonwealth Avenue or City Hall to the State Street T entrance that leads to the southbound platforms. Most of the rest of the Seaport I'll give you, but we are probably talking the distance from your house to the bus stop (and a lot shorter than my walk to the bus stop.) People make these walks even in horribly heat and cold weather.

Yes, 253 Summer is a quarter

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 12:55pm

Yes, 253 Summer is a quarter mile from South Station.

But the discussion shifted to the broader issue of transportation to the Waterfront, and the inadequacy of the Silver Line. It's a mile to D Street, and some new buildings are farther than that.

6'3", 195lbs

By issacg
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 2:50pm

and I sweat at the drop of a hat in this weather - twice as much picking it up.

As I am in reasonably good shape, and have no identified health issues (I have always sweat like this - even in youth), I am going to self-categorize as one of the "some people".

Also, so the haters can hate more, I am quite comfortable at the top of one of our New England mountains in January when there is no sun, the temperature is below zero F, and the wind is blowing the way it does. I also look askance upon people who look like they are about to die when waiting for a train in 15F weather (in part because they look at me like I "have a problem" all summer long).

Dressing for the Weather

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 4:11pm

I also look askance upon people who look like they are about to die when waiting for a train in 15F weather

People need to dress for the weather. Plenty of people who work downtown walk considerable distances in a commute. Cold is worse than heat in the morning, because cold is worst in the morning and heat is easiest.

People need to do what the rest of us downtown workers do - meaning, those of us who have to walk about a mile, total, during our commute and look presentable. That means keeping suit jackets and ties in the office and arriving in shirtsleeves in the summer. It means keeping your nice shoes in the office in the winter and wearing boots. It means bringing your clothes in and changing if you are a sweaty bettie or neddy. Lots of cyclists do this in my office, and they are suit and tie and nice dress lawyers.

The idea that you should be able to get point to point without walking is bizarre and what is making the US so very soft and sick.

distance

By hux
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 2:21pm

My Silver line related concerns do not particularly concern people who just walk across the channel, which is definitely possible for this Amazon location.

My concerns are more for the neighborhood + silver line in general. While Amazon is adding jobs pretty adjacent to SS, you have other employers, Reebok + America's Test Kitchen for instance, that are adding significant numbers to the end of the line at the IDB, which is where I work.

So despite your assumption, I do not walk because I'm out of shape, but because it is time consuming. Sure, it would be great to take a 30 min stroll to and from work (in addition to the rest of my commute), but not everyone has time for that everyday. Nor is everything in in the "south boston waterfront" a 10 min walk from SS.

I love this...

By issacg
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 2:43pm

and to know why, you would have had to been around here 17-20 years ago when we were working on the convention center project and other South Boston Waterfront public realm projects (we couldn't call it "Seaport" because that term did not include "South Boston" - Jimmy Kelly, Stevie Lynch and Jackie Hart said so) .

We were idiots and hacks engaged in another boondoggle building a white elephant that no one would ever come to because it was in a windswept wasteland.

Bonus fact - we're lucky to even have the Silver Lie. Lots of people wanted to kill even that glorified bus because "everyone will drive down there". We pushed very hard for light rail and lost.

We have been living with the ramifications of all this ever since.

Well

By anon²
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 4:16pm

I walked it all February. It's fine.

That said a trolly linking L / Summer / South Station like old days would do a ton to alleviate the crowding on the busses and Broadway.

a trolly

By hux
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:05pm

A trolly just serving courthouse + wtc + silver line way that could replace the useless non-SL1, non-SL2 Silver line way buses would be ideal.

Reebok

By RichM
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:36pm

Will be moving to the area too. The Design Center I believe.
I know a few people who live in the Canton area that are not looking forward to that new commute.

Don't

By anon²
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 7:06pm

Forget the thousands of new residents and mixed use commercial space going in where the power plant used to be. It'll basically be a new Neighborhood added over the next 10-15 years.

"Canton Area"

By blues_lead
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 10:11am

If only there were direct transit from Canton to Fort Point...

http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/...

walking

By Lisfnord
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 6:04pm

If I'm understanding correctly, it's going to be right next to the new GE offices. According to this map, it's right near where I work...which I walk to from South Station and have been for almost 20 years.
https://www.bisnow.com/boston/news/office/ge-headquarters-delayed-until-2019-71377

Right next to my office

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 11:59am

Nearly everyone either walks from South Station, South Boston, or bikes.

Note the 11 bus running behind it on Melcher.

MBTA is state

By Amian
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 4:59pm

I agree with you on how poor the transportation planning in the south Boston waterfront is but it's hard to hold the city accountable. The MBTA is all state and routinely makes it clear the it could not care less about the city.

As a Seaport resident, I agree about the Silver Line,

By GoSoxGo
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 10:19pm

but Amazon employees are not likely to be using it, as the location is closer to South Station than the closest Silver Line station (Courthouse).

That being said, the Silver Line is already overcrowded and getting worse by the day as new residences, jobs and retail options are added. Waiting a year for the SL3 - Chelsea route to debut with increased Transitway frequency is not going to cut it.

Saying goodbye to my ability

By Cynthia M. Donovan
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 3:32pm

Saying goodbye to my ability to park in Fort Point. :(

Which is exactly what you deserve

By baepp
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 4:40pm

Let me guess... you spend a lot of time complaining about how bad 93 southound traffic is during evening rush?

Nope, baepp. I don't drive

By Cynthia M. Donovan
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:27pm

Nope, baepp. I don't drive during rush hour...so I don't spend much time complaining about traffic on 93s. I live in a different state. (But am a Boston native and think traffic is so much better post BigDig.) I usually arrive in Boston at 11 am and leave at 8pm (or later). I'd live closer -- heck I'd LOVE to live in Fort Point within walking distance of my office-- but it is not in my very modest, no frills budget and non-profit salary.

And, baepp --- who the heck

By DonovanCyn
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 6:00pm

And, baepp --- who the heck are you to tell me what I deserve? You know jack about me, my life, my commute, my values, my health etc. In the 19 years I've worked here, parking in Fort Point has gone from being plentiful and inexpensive to scarce and very expensive. (And modest housing has gone from expensive to impossible in Massachusetts.) If I had other reasonable options I would not be spending 4 to 6 hours a day in a micro-car, paying a fortune to park in dank, dark garages and praying to the parking gods for assistance.

On a good day, there are maybe 5 empty parking spaces in the neighborhood at noontime. If something is going on at the convention center there are none. Add 900 more employees -- and no more parking -- if 25 of them want/need to drive --there will be no where for them to park. Taking the Red Line, the Commuter Rail, the Silver Line and various commuter buses to the Fort Point area can be awesome. Many workers, as well as visitors to the museums, restaurants and galleries take the T. Hubway, ZipCar and plenty of bike racks make the neighborhood even more accessible. But for an unfortunate few -- driving and parking is the only reasonable option.

Memories

By Bugs Bunny
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 7:55pm

I recall parking in the "mud lots" next to Fort Pt Channel in 1995. $5/day, always spaces available.

Maybe

By zetag
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 7:55pm

You should consider looking for a new job in your new state then? If you've worked in fort point for 19 years you should have know for at least half of that, if not more that parking availbilty would be drying up fast. You had plenty of time to make other arrangements.

We park in Fort Point occasionally

By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 7:56pm

But I don't feel particularly entitled to have a cheap parking spot in the city. We bike, take the T, and occasionally carpool (just the two of us or with neighbors). The price has been steadily rising - 4 years ago, it was only $11, now it's $22.

What really needs to be done is to improve public transit - then the price of parking might drop again. There was a big jump in both the price of parking and the number of people parking in the "mud lots" the month that commuter rail fares were jacked up. That wasn't a coincidence. I have spoken to my reps about this - how about all you drivers do the same? Even if you don't think that you can manage without your car, every other driver who can make the jump to public transit or other mode means less traffic and cheaper parking for you.

Hot tip for people coming from the North on 93: Partners at Assembly Square makes parking available to the general public for $8-10 a day, and it is a 1-2 minute walk to the platform. The Orange Line tends to move faster at rush hour than driving out of the city, too.

Not exactly the most useful tip

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 7:33am

Parking at Oak Grove, Malden, Wellington and Sullivan are all cheaper than that. Also, with its already overstuffed trains that predate many of the people on them, suggesting the Orange Line isn't exactly the best way to go. Better off parking for free on the Fellsway in Medford and taking the 326 express bus or the 100 local bus to Boston/Wellington.

Express Buses are $$$

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 11:48am

326 doesn't do the Fellsway.

Medford has put parking kiosks in many areas, too.

Much easier to get to Assembly

By anon
Wed, 07/12/2017 - 11:50am

Wellington only makes sense if you love miles of traffic jams. Ditto for the small streets that take miles to get to those other stations from 93 - miles of traffic.

Many suburbs have no alternative

By anon
Thu, 07/13/2017 - 1:33am

And yes, that is where many of these employees will be located, because not everyone wants to or can afford to live in places where there's alternatives, and the region already has so much density and sprawl everywhere that what open space in the region is left needs to be preserved.

Amazon HQ in Seattle

By anon
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:41pm

Has been described as so dystopic it could use some of those suicide nets they have in Chinese factories.

Alexa:

By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 8:10pm

Terrify the GE employees.

Amazon could add 900 jobs to Fort Point

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