Boston Landmarks Commission

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Boston Landmarks Commission
Map
Commission overview
Formed1975; 50 years ago (1975)
JurisdictionBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Headquarters20 City Hall Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, Massachusetts
42°21′29″N 71°03′32″W / 42.3581°N 71.05887°W / 42.3581; -71.05887
Commission executive
  • Kathy Kottaridis, executive director[1]
Parent CommissionOffice of Historic Preservation
Websitewww.boston.gov/departments/landmarks-commission

The Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) is a historic preservation agency for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The commission was created by state legislation in 1975.[2] It is part of the city's Office of Historic Preservation.

History

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Urban renewal in the United States started with the Housing Act of 1949, part of the "Fair Deal" program put forward by President Harry Truman. In Boston, almost a third of the old city was demolished, including the historic West End, to make way for low- and moderate-income high-rises, and new government and commercial buildings.[3]

The Boston Landmarks Commission was created by the state legislature in 1975.[4] It was formed in response to the mass demolitions, particularly the demolition of the Jordan Marsh Building on Washington Street. Built in the 1860s, the ornate building featured a well-known corner clock tower designed by Nathaniel Jeremiah Bradlee. Along with an entire row of annex buildings, the building was torn down in 1975 and replaced by a new building. Public outrage and grass roots protests influenced preservation legislation and sparked preservation action.

There are now[when?] over 8,000 landmarked properties in Boston.[citation needed]

Responsibilities

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The chief responsibilities of the Landmark Commission include identifying historic resources through preservation surveys, protecting and recognizing historic properties through designation, and preserving designated Landmarks through the design review process.[5]

The BLC also administers Article 85 Demolition Delay[6] for the entire city of Boston. Whenever a building proposed to be demolished is determined by BLC staff to be significant, the public is invited to testify at a public hearing. If the BLC invokes a 90-day "demolition delay" as a result, there is an opportunity for the community to participate in discussions with the developer and explore alternatives to demolition.

The commission meets twice a month on second and fourth Tuesdays. A design review starts a few hours prior to the business portion at every fourth Tuesday hearing.[7] Applicants propose changes to a landmark by presenting at the hearing, and the public is invited to comment.

Commissioners

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Commissioners are nominated by professional and neighborhood organizations, and appointed by the Mayor of Boston. Most are also confirmed by the Boston City Council. All commissioner positions are voluntary. There are 85 commissioner slots among the Boston Landmarks Commission and the 10 local historic commissions, although BLC commissioners also hold slots on local commissions.[citation needed]

Historic districts

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As of 2025, there were seven historic designated districts and three architectural districts.[8] Each district has its own commission staffed by a preservation planner within the Boston Landmarks Commission. The commissioners assure that the architectural and historical integrity of the district is not compromised. The districts include:

Highland Park in Roxbury was most recently designated in 2022.

Since 2022, the Monument Square Landmark District in Charlestown has been under study as a potential designated district following the submission of a petition by voters.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kathy Kottaridis". Boston.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  2. ^ "An Act Establishing the Boston Landmarks Commission" (PDF). Massachusetts General Court. 1975 – via cityofboston.gov.
  3. ^ "West End History". thewestendmuseum.org. 7 November 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "Chapter 772: An Act Establishing the Boston Landmarks Commission". Massachusetts General Court. December 16, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025 – via Google Drive.
  5. ^ "Individual Landmarks". Boston Landmarks Commission. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  6. ^ "Article 85 Demolition Delay". Boston Landmarks Commission. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  7. ^ "Landmarks and Historic Districts 2025 Public Hearing Dates". Boston Landmarks Commission. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  8. ^ "Landmarks Commission | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2019-11-22. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  9. ^ "Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  10. ^ "Back Bay Architectural District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  11. ^ "Bay State Road/Back Bay West Area Architectural Conservation District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  12. ^ "St. Botolph Area Architectural Conservation District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  13. ^ "Fort Point Channel Landmark District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  14. ^ "Highland Park Architectural Conservation District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  15. ^ "Beacon Hill Architectural District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  16. ^ "Mission Hill Triangle Architectural Conservation District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  17. ^ "South End Landmark District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  18. ^ "St. Botolph Area Architectural Conservation District | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  19. ^ "Monument Square Landmark District Study | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
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