South Boston Waterfront Looks to Be a Cultural Destination

South Boston Waterfront property 100 Pier 4 is almost complete, containing 21 stories and 388 apartment units already being leased by real estate investment trust UDR.

The ground level of the building will contain retail, a restaurant and 20,000 square feet of “civic space.”

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is currently fielding responses from “Boston-based qualified civic and cultural operators” to a request for interest to obtain ideas for what to do with the yet-to-be-defined civic space.

“The request for interest is something the Mayor’s office suggested as a way to support the cultural institutions that are in Boston,” BRA Deputy Director for Waterfront Planning Richard McGuinness told Boston.com.

Responses to the request are due May 4. The BRA and UDR will evaluate the responses for their potential to be a tourist attraction, the strength of their business plan, the staff they will bring with them and their budget, according to McGuinness. He said that some people have suggested the space go to a maritime museum, since it is right on the water.