Boston's Leather District:

Neighborhood Information

The Leather District is so tiny; it is hard to imagine the area being an actual district. Many Bostonians have never even heard of it. Some still refer to it as the South Cove area, as the venue was originally landfill dating to the 1830s. It is essentially the short streets of Lincoln, Utica and South, between the enormous South Station subway, commuter train and bus terminal located on Atlantic Avenue, the Financial District and Chinatown, with its numerous restaurants and other businesses.

Originally, it was a residential neighborhood, but later acquired its current name due to the leather manufacturers that located there after a fire burned down a large section of Boston in 1872. These erstwhile factories are now offices, apartments and condominiums, with restaurants and other merchants often occupying the first floor. A walk to the Financial District takes only ten minutes.


The area lacks a supermarket, including other adjacent neighborhoods, as do many Boston neighborhoods close to downtown. Parking is nigh to impossible even with a resident parking sticker. Paying a high monthly fee for parking may be the only option if you seek a spot nearby. Fortunately, all modes of public transportation are a short walk. Even a commuter boat. Street crime is minimal, which is unusual for many urban environments.