This blog is a place for dialogue on issues and actions relating to Boston's unique built environment and the preservation and continuing evolution of historic resources within it. My goal, as the Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, is to post timely, relevant and thought-provoking intelligence, ideas, and insights that will engage conversations, inform our actions, and broaden perspectives on preservation.
We want to hear from you — so start a conversation, share a thought or comment, and let us know what you think.
Executive Director
Lewis-Dawson Farmhouse sits at the edge of the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Visible from Centre Street, it was originally built for the caretaker of the Arboretum and is still owned by Harvard University. It is a rare surviving house from its era (early 1800s), and is in relatively good shape. (It always reminds me [...]
The rehabilitation of the Longfellow Bridge is quite possibly one of the most important preservation projects moving forward in Massachusetts at this time. Designed by Edmund Wheelright in 1908, the bridge is a marvel of engineering, an architectural gem, and an iconic fixture spanning the Charles River and connecting Boston to its sister city of Cambridge. [...]
Here at the Alliance, we could not be more excited about the new Boston Society of Architects headquarters at Atlantic Wharf. There’s really so much to be excited about. To begin with, it is housed in what is surely one of the most important preservation projects of 2011 (and the winner of one of the Alliance’s Preservation [...]
We recently interviewed Drew Leff, principal of GLC Development Resources (and Boston Preservation Alliance Board Member), for our upcoming issue of the AllianceLetter. (Stay tuned – it comes out in April!) It was a great chance to learn about a very cool preservation project on Stuart Street, the conversion of the 125-year-old Dill Building into a 450-bed hostel by Hostelling International (HI). Nestled [...]