In April of 1980, the first issue of the organization’s newsletter the AllianceLetter was published. The Alliance was granted non-profit 501 (c) (3) IRS status in the spring of 1982. In 1983, Rupert A. M. Davis became the first executive director of the Alliance and Susan Park replaced him as Chair. The Alliance frequently changed addresses until 1984, when the spectacular renovation of Old City Hall made space available. Through the generosity of the Architectural Heritage Foundation, Old City Hall remains the Alliance’s headquarters today.

In the early 1980s, the Alliance submitted one of the first landmark petitions in Boston history in an attempt to protect the Peabody & Stearns Boston Stock Exchange (1888-91) from being demolished to make way for a tower.  The front façade was protected - but the rest of the building was lost.  The Alliance sued the Landmark Commission for its action, but was not given standing.  This was the beginning of a long list of occasions in which the Alliance fought to protect individual buildings from demolition.

In 1988, the Alliance established the first preservation award program for Boston. Award categories changed over the years to better reflect the challenges facing developers and city agencies. The winners have included the Berkeley Building, the African Meeting House, South Station and others.

Photo: Old City Hall
Courtesy of the Boston Preservation Alliance