One year into her tenure, the South Boston neighborhood liaison says the Seaport is becoming a vibrant hub for its rapidly increasing resident population but declined to answer questions about the future of the neighborhood.

Lydia Polaski was appointed the mayor’s neighborhood liaison to South Boston and the Seaport last October. She previously served on multiple community boards in South Boston. She said at the time that her focus would be neighborhood livability.

“I care deeply about what this community experiences on a day-to-day basis,” Polaski said. “Serving as a liaison is an opportunity to listen to residents and directly impact their quality of life. My daughter is a Southie kid. I aspire to cultivate a Boston where the next generation can settle and thrive.”

The Seaport has expanded rapidly in the past few years in all directions. Seaport Boulevard, for example, is a heavily commercial area, with many small businesses and popular chain stores. But it has also become a hub of industry, as multiple medical and pharmaceutical companies have opened offices there.

This summer, biotechnology firm Foundation Medicine opened a laboratory complex at the Summer Street steps. Amazon opened a 2,000-person office in Harbor Way two years prior.

But residents have begun to exponentially flood the neighborhood, too. In 2010, the U.S. census recorded no population data in the neighborhood because not enough people lived there. In 2020, it recorded nearly 6,000 residents. The neighborhood’s first community group, the Seaport Neighborhood Association, began its operations just six months ago.

“Residents in the Seaport are vibrant city dwellers, urban professionals, families and retirees, who welcome the energy and modern evolution of their neighborhood,” Polaski said. “The people who live here are invested and want to ensure they are narrating next steps as the neighborhood expands.

Interesting businesses and restaurants are opening regularly, which is exciting.”

Despite its vibrant resident culture and ever-growing array of businesses and restaurants, the neighborhood still lacks traditional community elements, as the city has not quite kept up with the influx. There are no dedicated Seaport public library or school branches. There are no subway stations. Emergency services must commute from Downtown or South Boston, as there are no fire or police stations in the neighborhood.

Polaski’s team said she could not comment on questions about future developments in the Seaport, like whether residents can expect to see school and library branches, or whether the neighborhood might shift away from commerce and industry as more residents arrive. They instead referred those questions to the Boston Planning Department, which did not respond to a request for comment.