A Boston Landmark is a designation by the Boston Landmarks Commission for historic buildings and sites throughout the city of Boston based on the grounds that it has historical, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to New England or the United States. While National Landmark or National Register status can provide tax incentives for the owner of an income-producing property, local landmark status provides more control over modifications to a designated historic structure or place.[1]

Criteria

For a group to start a designation procedure, they first meet with Boston Landmarks Commission staff to discuss the petition process. Once a complete petition is submitted, a preliminary hearing is scheduled to determine if the Commission will accept the petition for further study. If the Commission accepts the petition, the building or site is added to the pending Landmarks list. Preparation of a study report on the proposed Landmark is the next step. A public hearing process follows to present the draft study report. A 2/3 majority vote of the Commission is necessary for a property to be designated as a Boston Landmark. The decision must then be confirmed by the Mayor of Boston and by the Boston City Council. The Boston Landmarks Commission determines if a property is eligible for landmark status based on whether it

  1. Is a site that represents some important aspect of cultural, political, economic, military, or social history
  2. Is a site that has a significant association with an outstanding historic person
  3. Is a notable work of an influential architect, landscape architect, designer, or builder
  4. Represents elements of design with distinctive characteristics of a period, style or method of construction or development.

Once designated, any proposed alterations must be reviewed and approved by the Boston Landmarks Commission.[2]

Recent designations

In 2016, a commissioner submitted a petition to the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate the Citgo sign above Kenmore Square, when its support building at 660 Beacon Street was in the process of being sold by Boston University. The petition was accepted and the sign is a pending Landmark, with research for the study report underway.[3]

Since two unrelated designations in 2016, as of July 2018 no pending landmarks have been approved. A number of sites have remained pending since the 1980s.[4]

Demolished Boston Landmarks

The 1840 Roswell Gleason house in Dorchester was granted landmark status in 1977. It was destroyed by fire in 1982.[5]

List of designated Boston Landmarks

Boston Landmarks Location Date Designated[6] Image References
20–30 Bromfield Street 20–30 Bromfield Street 1983
[7]
39 & 41 Princeton Street (Stephen Huse Whidden House & Joseph Henry Stephenson House) Architectural Conservation District East Boston 1991 [8]
5–7 Broad Street 5–7 Broad Street 1983 [9]
Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District Brighton 2001 [10]
Adams-Nervine Asylum 990–1020 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain 1977 [11]
Alvah Kittredge House 10 Linwood Street, Roxbury 2016
[12][13]
Arlington Street Church 355 Boylston Street, Back Bay 1978
[14]
Armory of the First Corps of Cadets 97–105 Arlington Street 1977
[15]
Austin Block 90–92 Main Street, Charlestown 1981 [16]
Back Bay Fens The Fenway 1983
[17][18]
Batterymarch Building 54 Battermarch Street, Jamaica Plain 1995 [19][20]
Bay State Road / Back Bay West Architectural Conservation District Bay State Road 1979 [21]
Bay Village Architectural Conservation District Bay Village 1983
[22]
Blackstone Block Street Network Blackstone Block 1983
[23]
Boston Common Beacon Street 1977
[24]
Boston Young Men's Christian Union Building 48 Boylston Street, Theater District 1977
[25]
Boylston Building 2 Boylston Street, Theater District 1977
[26]
Brook Farm 670 Baker Street, West Roxbury 1977
[27]
Burrage House 137 Beacon Street, Back Bay 1992 [28][29]
Charles River Esplanade Beacon Hill / Back Bay 2009
[30]
Charles River Speedway Administration Building 1420–1440 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton 2013
[31]
Charlestown Savings Bank Building 1–4 Thompson Square, Charlestown 1981 [32]
Christian Science Center Complex Fenway 2011
[33]
Church Green Buildings 101–103,105–113 Summer Street 1979
[34]
Commonwealth Avenue Mall Back Bay 1977
[35]
Cox Building 1–7 Dudley Street, Roxbury 1980 [36]
Donald McKay House 80 White Street, East Boston 1977
[37]
Dorchester North Burying Ground Columbia Road, Dorchester 1981
[38]
Dorchester Pottery Works 101–105 Victory Road, Dorchester 1980
[39]
Ebenezer Hancock House Marshall Street 1978 [40]
Edward Everett House 16 Harvard Street, Charlestown 1996 [41]
Elizabeth Peabody Bookstore and Circulating Library 13–15 West Street 2011 [42][43]
Eustis Street Architectural Conservation District Roxbury 1981 [44]
Exchange Building 53 State Street 1980 [45]
Faneuil Hall 1–10 Faneuil Hall Square 1994
[46]
Federal Reserve Bank 30 Pearl Street 1978
[47]
Fort Point Channel Landmark District South Boston 2008
[48]
Fowler-Clark Farm 487 Norfolk Street, Mattapan 2006 [49]
Franklin Park Roxbury 1980
[50]
George Milliken House 44 Virginia Street, Dorchester 2007 [51]
Gibson House (Interior) 187 Beacon Street, Back Bay 1992
[52]
Harrison Loring House 789 East Broadway, South Boston 1984
[53]
Hayden Building 681 Washington Street, Theater District 1977
[54][55]
International Trust Company Building 45 Milk Street 1978
[56]
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 280 The Fenway 2013
[57]
Jacob Wirth Buildings 31–39 Stuart Street, Theater District 1977
[58]
James Blake House 210 East Cottage Street, Dorchester 1978
[59]
James Michael Curley House 350 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain 1989 [60]
Lewis–Dawson Farmhouse at the Arnold Arboretum 1090 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain 2007 [61][62]
Liberty Tree Building 628–636 Washington Street, Theater District 1985
[63]
Loring–Greenough House 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain 1999
[64]
Malcolm X – Ella Little-Collins House 72 Dale Street, Roxbury 1998 [65]
McCormack Post Office and Courthouse 5 Post Office Square 1998 [66]
Mission Church Complex Mission Hill 2004 [67]
Modern Theatre 523–525 Washington Street 2002
[68]
Oak Square School 35 Nonantum Street, Brighton 1979
[69]
Old State House 208 Washington Street 1994
[70]
Paramount Theater 549–563 Washington Street, Theater District 1984
[71]
Proctor Building 100–106 Bedford Street 1983 [72]
Public Garden Beacon Street 1977
[73]
Quincy Market Faneuil Hall Market Place 1996
[74][75]
South End Landmark District South End 1983
[76][77]
St. Botolph Street Architectural Conservation District St. Botolph Street 1981 [78]
St. Gabriel's Monastery Building 159 Washington Street, Brighton 1989 [79][80]
Theodore Parker Unitarian Church 1851 Centre Street, West Roxbury 1985
[81]
Trinity Neighborhood House 406 Meridian Street, East Boston 1981
[82]
Tugboat Luna Charles River 1985
[83]
United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building 140 Federal Street 1983
[84]
Vienna Brewery Complex 133 Halleck & 37 Station, Roxbury 1999 [85]
Wilbur Theatre 250 Tremont Street, Theater District 1987
[86]
William Monroe Trotter House 97 Sawyer Avenue, Dorchester 1977
[87][88]

References

  1. ^ "Designating landmarks in Boston". 12 July 2016.
  2. ^ "How to apply for Landmarks design review". 12 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Panel drafting rules that could protect Boston's Citgo sign".
  4. ^ Pending and Designated Landmarks as of July 2018, PDF file, Retrieved September 8, 2018
  5. ^ Status of Petitions to the Boston Landmarks Commission for Designation as Landmarks and Districts (PDF) (Report). June 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "City of Boston" (PDF). City of Boston. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  7. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "20–30 Bromfield Street Study Report" (PDF).
  8. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1991). "39 & 41 Princeton Street Architectural Conservation District Study Report" (PDF).
  9. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "5–7 Broad Street Study Report" (PDF).
  10. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2002). "Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District Study Report" (PDF).
  11. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Adams-Nervine Asylum Study Report" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Alvah Kittredge House Study Report" (PDF). 2016.
  13. ^ Historic Boston (December 22, 2015). "Alvah Kittredge House Proposed For Boston Landmark Designation".
  14. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Arlington Street Church Study Report" (PDF).
  15. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Armory of the First Corps Cadets Study Report" (PDF).
  16. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1980). "The Austin Block Study Report" (PDF).
  17. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Back Bay Fens Study Report" (PDF).
  18. ^ Berg, Shary Page (n.d.). "Restoring Olmstead's Vision". Muddy River Restoration Project. Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee.
  19. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1995). "Batterymarch Building Study Report" (PDF).
  20. ^ Gehrman, Elizabeth (December 21, 2014). "When Boston first went big: Considering one of our original skyscrapers". The Boston Globe Magazine.
  21. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "Bay State Road/Back Bay West Study Report" (PDF).
  22. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Bay Village Study Report" (PDF).
  23. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Blackstone Block Street Network Study Report" (PDF).
  24. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Boston Common Study Report" (PDF).
  25. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Boston Young Men's Christian Union Building Study Report" (PDF).
  26. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The Boylston Building Study Report" (PDF).
  27. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Brook Farm Study Report" (PDF).
  28. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "The Burrage House Study Report" (PDF).
  29. ^ Larson, Todd (May 26, 2016). "In three Back Bay mansions, Gilded Age shines again". The Boston Globe.
  30. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2009). "Charles River Esplande Study Report" (PDF).
  31. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "Charles River Speedway Administration Building" (PDF).
  32. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Charlestown Savings Bank Building" (PDF).
  33. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "Christian Science Center Complex Study Report" (PDF).
  34. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "The Church Green Buildings Study Report" (PDF).
  35. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Commonwealth Avenue Mall Study Report" (PDF).
  36. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "Cox Building Study Report" (PDF).
  37. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Donald McKay House Study Report" (PDF).
  38. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "Dorchester North Burying Ground Study Report" (PDF).
  39. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1980). "Dorchester Pottery Works Study Report" (PDF).
  40. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Ebenezer Hancock House Study Report" (PDF).
  41. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1996). "Edward Everett House Study Report" (PDF).
  42. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "13–15 West Street Study Report" (PDF).
  43. ^ Fox, Jeremy C. (September 15, 2011). "Commission appears poised to declare former Transcendentalist bookstore a landmark". Boston Globe.
  44. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Eustis Street Area Study Report" (PDF).
  45. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "The Exchange Building Study Report" (PDF).
  46. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1994). "Faneuil Hall Study Report" (PDF).
  47. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "Federal Reserve Bank Study Report" (PDF).
  48. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2008). "The Fort Point Channel Landmark District Study Report" (PDF).
  49. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2005). "Fowler-Clark Farm Study Report" (PDF).
  50. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1980). "Franklin Park Study Report" (PDF).
  51. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "George Milliken House Study Report" (PDF).
  52. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1992). "Gibson House (Interior) Study Report" (PDF).
  53. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Harrison Loring House Study Report" (PDF).
  54. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The Hayden Building Study Report" (PDF).
  55. ^ "Mayor Menino Dedicates Historic Hayden Building". Boston Planning & Development Agency. May 1, 2013.
  56. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "International Trust Company Building Study Report" (PDF).
  57. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2011). "Isabella Stewart Garnder Museum Study Report" (PDF).
  58. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The Jacob Wirth Buildings Study Report" (PDF).
  59. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1978). "The James Blake House Study Report" (PDF).
  60. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1988). "James Michael Curley House Study Report" (PDF).
  61. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (n.d.). "Lewis–Dawson Farmhouse at the Arnold Arboretum Study Report" (PDF).
  62. ^ "Harvard University Statement on Jabez Lewis House". Arnold Arboretum. October 18, 2007.
  63. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1985). "The Liberty Tree Building Study Report" (PDF).
  64. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1999). "The Loring-Greenough House Study Report" (PDF).
  65. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1998). "The Malcolm X — Ella Little-Collins House Study Report" (PDF).
  66. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1997). "The John W. McCormack Post Office and Court House Study Report" (PDF).
  67. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2004). "Mission Church Complex Study Report" (PDF).
  68. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (2002). "Modern Theatre Study Report" (PDF).
  69. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1979). "Oak Square School Study Report" (PDF).
  70. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1994). "The Old State House Study Report" (PDF).
  71. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Paramount Theatre Study Report" (PDF).
  72. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "The Proctor Building Study Report" (PDF).
  73. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "Public Garden Study Report" (PDF).
  74. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1996). "Quincy Market Study Report" (PDF).
  75. ^ Chesto, Jon (June 4, 2015). "Plan for Faneuil Hall makeover runs into resistance". The Boston Globe.
  76. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "The South End Study Report" (PDF).
  77. ^ Turchi, Megan (March 5, 2015). "South End Landmark District Has Complicated Past". Boston Globe.
  78. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Saint Botolph Area Study Report" (PDF).
  79. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1988). "Saint Gabriel's Monastery Complex Study Report" (PDF).
  80. ^ Logan, Tim (January 4, 2016). "Grad student housing proposed for Brighton property". The Boston Globe.
  81. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1985). "Theodore Parker Unitarian Church Study Report" (PDF).
  82. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1981). "Trinity Neighborhood House Study Report" (PDF).
  83. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1985). "The Tugboat Luna Study Report" (PDF).
  84. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building Study Report" (PDF).
  85. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1998). "The Vienna Brewery Complex Study Report" (PDF).
  86. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1983). "Wilbur Theatre Study Report" (PDF).
  87. ^ Boston Landmarks Commission (1977). "The William Monroe Trotter House Study Report" (PDF).
  88. ^ National Park Service. "William Monroe Trotter House". We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement.

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