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A Boston Landmark is a designation by the Boston Landmarks Commission for historic buildings and sites based on the grounds that it has historical, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to New England or the United States. While National Landmark 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.
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Map of Boston, MA, USA
Criteria
To start the designation procedure, a petition signed by 10 registered Boston voters or a BLC commissioner or the Mayor is submitted to the Boston Landmarks Commission. A preliminary hearing is then held to determine if the petition will be accepted by the Commission 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 city council. The BLC determines if a property is eligible for landmark status based on whether it
- Is a site that represents some important aspect of cultural, political, economic, military, or social history
- Is a site that has a significant association with an outstanding historic person
- Is a notable work of an influential architect, landscape architect, designer, or builder
- 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.
Recent Designations
In 2015, the Boston Landmarks Commission was petitioned to designate Prouty Garden at Boston Children's Hospital for landmark status after a hospital expansion plan would lead to the destruction of the park. Th BLC voted 7-1 denying the petition.
In 2016, a BLC commissioner submitted a petition to the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate the Citgo sign above Kenmore Square when the building, 660 Beacon Street was in the process of being sold by Boston University. The petition was accepted and the sign is now a pending Landmark, with research for the study report underway.