A shipyard that became a neighborhood
The town's historic resources draft says a Bethlehem Steel shipyard operated at Hewitts Cove in the 1940s, and that the mixed-use Shipyard development began in 2003. It describes the development as including market-rate and affordable housing alongside commercial space.
The master plan's housing chapter names three residential projects here. Avalon Residences has 281 units, Brio is a market-rate condominium building, and Avalon Hingham Shipyard II has 190 rental units. A 2019 Patch report on Brio gives 77 condominiums in a five-story building overlooking the marina.
Hingham Shipyard at a glance
- TypeMixed-use waterfront district with condominiums, rental apartments and commercial space.
- Housing named in the master planAvalon Residences with 281 units, Brio condominiums and Avalon Hingham Shipyard II with 190 rental units.
- HistoryA Bethlehem Steel shipyard at Hewitts Cove in the 1940s, with the current development starting in 2003.
- WaterThe Weir River Water System serves Hingham, according to its 2023 water quality report.
Why multi-unit plumbing is a different problem
A leak in a condominium or apartment rarely stays in one unit. Water can travel through a ceiling, a wall cavity or a shared drain, and the person who sees the damage is often not the person whose fixture failed.
Who pays for and controls each part depends on your condominium documents or your lease. The table below shows a common pattern and not a rule for these buildings, so read your own documents first.
| Item | Often the unit owner or tenant | Often the association or landlord |
|---|---|---|
| Faucets, toilets and fixtures inside the unit | Yes | Rarely |
| The shutoff valve that serves only your unit | Often | Sometimes |
| A water heater that serves only your unit | Often | Sometimes |
| Risers and drains shared by several units | Rarely | Often |
| Common areas, garages and building systems | No | Yes |
Tell your property manager before any work that opens walls or touches shared lines. Many associations require approval and some require proof of insurance, so ask first.
When water is coming through a ceiling or wall
- 1
Close your unit's shutoff
Find the valve for your unit and close it if the water is coming from your side.
- 2
Call management
Report the leak so the building shutoff and the unit above can be checked.
- 3
Document the damage
Photograph the area and note the time, which helps with the association and any insurance claim.
- 4
Ask about the cause
Call (339) 216-9771 to ask about plumbing service, and a plumber can locate the source with leak detection.
Services that fit multi-unit buildings
- A fixture that fails inside a unit is a toilet repair or faucet repair job.
- A hidden source behind a wall or in a ceiling starts with leak detection.
- Shops, restaurants and office space nearby can ask about commercial plumbing.
- A water heater that serves one unit is a water heater repair or replacement question, subject to your building's rules.
We do not know the plumbing systems inside these specific buildings, and we do not claim to. Each call starts with who owns the fixture, who controls the shutoff and what your documents say.
Hingham Shipyard plumbing questions
Close your unit's shutoff if the water is coming from your side, then tell the property manager so the building shutoff and neighboring units can be checked. Call a plumber to find and fix the source.
It depends on your condominium documents. Many associations require notice or approval for work that opens walls or touches shared lines, so ask before any work starts.
Call and describe the space. Commercial calls depend on who owns each line and what the lease says, and the commercial plumbing page explains what to have ready.
Yes. It is on Hewitts Cove in Hingham. For other parts of town see Hingham Square, Crow Point and South Hingham.

