According to Georgeane Tacelli, spokesperson for Massport, Commonwealth Flats is divided up into a number of parcels, some of which have been developed by private developers. Fidelity has developed three parcels on which it built two office buildings, known as World Trade Center East and West, and the Seaport Hotel. Fidelity also holds the option on another parcel on which it plans to build World Trade Center South.

The problem is the eastern part of Massport's land, which includes the seaport, Conley's Terminal, abuts the working area of the port, including the seafood processing centers and warehouses that serve the fishing industry as well as the storage areas for containers unloaded at the seaport. Lowell Richards, Massport's director of development, did not return calls by presstime, but he is quoted as saying that running the seaport is a money-losing proposition and Massport needs to develop its property in order to fund the port.

Neighborhood groups insist that Massport's first loyalty should be to the port, not to developing its land. The concern is that the development will threaten the viability of the port's future.