What is the Saint Botolph

Architectural Conservation District?

The Saint Botolph Architectural Conservation District was designated in 1981, at the recommendation of the St. Botolph District Study Committee, after two years of analysis and meetings with residents and Boston Landmarks Commission staff. The Committee  concluded “…..that the St. Botolph area is architecturally significant as a substantially intact area of late 19th century Victorian style buildings…….and as an extension and completion of the Back Bay, one of the nation’s most architecturally important neighborhood.” The purpose of creating such a District was to recognize  and  preserve  the unique  architectural, aesthetic and historic character of this remarkably cohesive District for the educational, cultural and economic welfare of the District’s residents and the greater Boston community.
For a fascinating and more in depth historical background on the St. Botolph District , please see St. Botolph Architectural Conservation District Study Report.

The Landmarks Commission is Boston's historic preservation agency and is part of the City’s Department of the Environment. The Saint Botolph Area Conservation District  Commission (SBACDC, or the “Commission”), is a subset of the City’s overall Landmarks Commission and is responsible for preserving Saint Botolph's historic buildings and places, through protective designation and design reviews prior to construction.

The Role of the SBACDC
To ensure that exterior changes made to buildings will be in keeping with the historic character of the Neighborhood, the SBACDC must review and approve proposed visible exterior work before a City Building Permit is issued. The SBACDC meets on the third Wednesday of each month to review proposed exterior work. (a Senior Preservation Planner on Landmarks staff) is the Saint Botolph area’s designated Planner.

All proposed exterior work, including work at rooftops, that is, or will be, visible from any public way (including Southwest Corridor Park) is subject to the review of the SBACDC and must comply with the District’s Standards and Criteria . Proponents must submit a Design Approval Application to the Commission and it must be approved by the Commission before beginning any exterior work that is subject to Commission review.

• Proponents should review all instructions and documentation requirements before submitting the  application to ensure it is complete. Only complete applications will be added to a public hearing agenda.
• As extra support to the Saint Botolph historical district, the Saint Botolph Neighborhood Association (SBNA)  has an Architectural Review Committee to help residents early in the planning process to determine project compliance with the Standards and Criteria. Additionally, the SBNA’s Architectural Review Committee is often asked by the SBACDC to represent the “Neighborhood’s position” on major projects affecting more than just immediate abutters to a project.
• If you are unsure of how to proceed or just need a friendly advice on the steps to take, contact our Architectural Review Committee .​

Boston Groundwater Trust 

The Boston Groundwater Trust has the primary goal of monitoring groundwater levels in specific sections of the City where the structural integrity of building foundations supported by wood pilings is at risk due to declining groundwater levels. Alongside monitoring, the Trust is also tasked with making informed recommendations aimed at addressing and resolving this critical issue. The Trust’s core responsibilities include maintaining a
comprehensive network of approximately 800 observation wells across the city, conducting groundwater elevation measurements in these wells, and ensuring that this
valuable data is made available to the public as well as the relevant governmental agencies.
 
Learn more here

Water Table Levels 

Garrison Hall and Garrison St are named for William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist and journalistic crusader.

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Choosing to live in this neighborhood makes us all stewards of preservation.

Once Upon a Time......

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Boston, being limited in size, faced challenges that prompted early residents to undertake efforts to expand the city by creating additional buildable land. This "filled land" was crafted by layering sand and gravel over the existing mud flats. Despite the transformation, this new terrain proved inadequate to support substantial structures like multi-story brick row houses. The map provided below offers a visual representation of the filled land, distinguished by black and white sections, in contrast to the original land marked in red. Today, many Bostonians reside or work in older buildings located within neighborhoods built on filled land. These areas include the Fenway, Back Bay, South End, Bay Village, parts of Beacon Hill, Chinatown, the Leather District, the Bulfinch Triangle, the North End, Downtown waterfronts, the Fort Point Channel section of South Boston, and sections of East Boston.

Did you know? 

The neighborhood was known for two crafts in particular - Binding of book by hand with fine leathers and the fashioning of Stained Glass .

Martin Luther King was a resident in the 50's and lived at 170 St. Botolph St.!

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Edwin Arlington Robinson lived at 99 St Botolph St ( now the Inn at St. Botolph) and is credited with leading a revival of poetry early in the twentieth century together with Robert Frost. He was awarded three Pulitzer prizes in 1921, 1924, and 1927.

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Here’s one:  Judy Garland, Anthony Perkins and Liberace walk into a bar… the bar was Charlie Trafton's place at 124 Saint Botolph St click here for the details!

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