From Razors to Residences: Gillette Unveils Bold Plan to Transform Southie Campus into Waterfront Neighborhood
Big changes are coming to the Gillette campus in Southie! After over a century of making razors along the Fort Point Channel, Gillette has officially filed plans for a major transformation of its 31-acre site—and let’s just say, it’s going to look very different.
The proposal includes 20 new buildings totaling 5.7 million square feet (yes, you read that right), mixing residential units, hotel rooms, office and lab space, plus some retail. Think: future-forward neighborhood vibes, all set around eight acres of parks, plazas, and walkways.
With production lines moving to Andover, the iconic World Shaving Headquarters will be torn down, but Gillette isn’t saying goodbye to Boston entirely—they’re keeping their corporate HQ and R&D in the city.
This big vision was laid out in a “planned development area” filing with the BPDA, and if approved, would basically rewrite the zoning rules for the area and pave the way for more detailed projects to follow. According to Universal Hub, Gillette also hinted they might pass the torch to another developer to carry out the build.
Building heights will be capped—thanks to FAA and neighborhood concerns—with the tallest topping out around 320 feet, though nothing higher than 225 feet near Richards and Necco Streets.
Also, part of the plans? A massive new waterfront park—6.5 acres’ worth—stretching along 1,200 feet of the Fort Point Channel. It’s not just pretty; it’s being designed to help protect against future flooding tied to sea-level rise projections for 2070.
The proposal also includes garages with space for 4,489 cars. Also proposed is a long-term indoor storage for 3,334 bicycles and public bike racks with room for 592 bikes, plus Bluebike stations.
Change is definitely coming to this corner of Southie—stay tuned! You can get the full details here.
This large scale development is just one of many happening in the neighborhood. We have 776 Summer Street, Dorchester Bay City, this one and this one too.
Buckle up, Southie!
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
Keep that iconic sign. I always knew I was home coming down the pike from Eastover.
Change come to Southie ever since forced bussing and the tall ships come into the cityI. I think it’s a shame that such a great neighborhood has been ripped apart and ruined all in the name of money. It was once a friendly, cozy neighborhood where everyone knew everyone and you could sit outside your house at night and talk to your next door neighbor and friends without fear of getting mugged or shot. Now you don’t even know your next door neighbor. The good old Southie is gone and will never be back, not even close. As far I am concerned you a take your wide open yuppie filled Southie and shove it as far as it will go up your butthole. I was born and brought up there until forced bussing come in . The I had to move out so my kids wouldn’t be hurt or worse. I am a senior citizen now in my 70’s so I know what I am talking about
No i didn’t already say that. You just don’t like the truth, Bunch of phonies.
Ken, I could not agree more with everything you said! Southie will never return to what we remember so fondly. Garrity and Ted Kennedy were the driving forces behind the demise of a special section of Boston that had no equal. I try to remember and visit the few (castle island, L street) that do still remain. I’m almost 70 so I too recall all the great things about South Boston, at least the developers can’t rip down our special memories of a magical place and time.