Bay Village
Considered Boston’s “secret-garden,” Bay Village is a brick rowhouse oasis.
The neighborhood is surrounded by Chinatown, Back Bay, the South End. and Downtown. Bay Village features tree-lined streets and shops and restaurants. One of the smallest neighborhoods in Boston makes up for its lack of size with its inviting and friendly atmosphere.
Neighborhood Contacts
Neighborhood ContactsMichaela Nee
South End and Bay Village Liaison
Michaela Nee is a South Boston native. Her professional journey began in ministry-based initiatives, serving with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity as an elementary school teacher on the Turtle Mountain Native American Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota.
In 2020, Nee joined Boston 311 as a call taker, helping residents access City services and connect them with critical resources. She later transitioned to the Mayor’s Office, serving as Operations Manager and as Co-Director of the Coordinated Response Team from 2022 to 2024. In these roles, she worked closely with City departments, community partners, and residents to address complex challenges related to unsheltered individuals and substance use disorder while advancing quality\-of-life improvements across Boston. Prior to her work with the City, she served as a Program Manager at AIM Women’s Center in the Ohio River Valley, where she supported and advocated for women experiencing homelessness and helped create a safe, supportive environment for pregnant women in need.
Christopher Breen
Deputy Director
Christopher Breen was born and raised in the city of Boston. He grew up in Charlestown and is a proud Boston Public Schools graduate of Boston Latin Academy. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
Chris has spent over 18 years working in multiple capacities for the City of Boston, beginning his career as a teenager in the “redshirt” program for BCYF. Chris then went on to work nine years for the Boston Public Schools as a teacher at the Eliot School in the North End. He joined the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services where he worked three years as the Charlestown Liaison. He worked close to six years as the Urban Renewal Manager at the Boston Planning and Development Agency before returning to the Mayor’s Office as a Deputy Director of Neighborhood Services. Chris returned to Neighborhood Services because he has a passion for helping improve and streamline City services to help make Boston a better place to live for every resident.
When Breen is not serving the people of Boston, he loves to attend Boston Bruins and Celtics games.
Christopher Breen is the Deputy Director of Neighborhoods: Dorchester, East Boston, North End, West End, Wharf District Liaison, Downtown, Chinatown, Leather District, South End and Bay Village.
Neighborhood features
Developer Ephraim Marsh built the neighborhood out of a landfill in the 1820s. Bay Village has been known as:
- the Church Street District
- South Cove, and
- Kerry Village.
Many of the homes look like smaller versions of Beacon Hill townhouses. The reason? The same people who built those Beacon Hill residences settled in Bay Village. The neighborhood features restaurants, the Theater District, and many other cultural attractions. You can also Eliot Norton Park in the neighborhood.