South End Landmark District
The South End Landmark District was designated in 1983.
The South End Landmark District Commission (SELDC) meets on the first Tuesday of each month to review proposals. Interested in becoming a commissioner? Please see details about nomination in the district's Study Report and check the commission information section at the bottom of this page. If you see an "apply online" button, we have an opening on the commission and you're able to apply for it.
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESSPLEASE NOTE: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Staff must determine that your application is complete fifteen (15) business days prior to a public hearing date to be added to the agenda. Incomplete applications cannot be added to an agenda.
APPLY FOR DESIGN REVIEW ONLINE
Work subject to the review of the SELDC includes:
- all proposed exterior work at front facades
- all exterior work at rooftops (when visible from a public way), and
- all exterior work at side and rear elevations (when side and rear elevations directly face a public way).
You must submit a Design Approval Application to the Commission. It must be approved by the Commission before beginning any exterior work subject to Commission review. In the South End Landmark District Protection Area, only certain items of work are subject to review. Please see our map.
- To save time and costs, please contact staff early in the planning process to determine project compliance with the standards and criteria.
- Review all instructions and documentation requirements before submitting your application to ensure it is complete. Only complete applications will be added to a public hearing agenda.
- Submit your application well in advance of the fifteen business day deadline in case it is marked incomplete and additional or revised information is needed.
- Staff is not available to review applications for completeness immediately upon submittal.
- Do not begin any work, or buy materials, until after you receive confirmation that your project has been approved.
HISTORY
Originally marshland bisected by a narrow strip of land called The Neck (now Washington Street), the South End consists of historic residential blocks, parks, and main thoroughfares with commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. After the marsh was filled, development began in 1850 by real estate speculators building fashionable, single-family rowhouses. Restrictions on building size and materials meant residential structures in long uniform rows, resulting in remarkable visual unity throughout the area. After the Financial Panic of 1873, the most wealthy Bostonians moved to the brand new Back Bay. By the turn of the century, lodging houses geared towards the working class were almost the only residential structures built. For further historical background, please see the South End Landmark District Study Report.
Resources
Resources- Once your application has been ruled on by the commission, your decision letter will be emailed to you.
- If approved, use the decision letter to obtain your building permit with the building department. Be sure to display your approval placard on site, visible to the public, for the duration of the project.
- Application Instructions and Fees
- Displaying Your Approval On-Site
- Extension Form
- GIS Landmarks Map
- Guide to photographing windows for applications
- Resilient historic home design guide
- SELD By-Laws
- SELD District Standards & Criteria
- SELD District Map
- SELD Enabling Legislation
- SELD Study Report
- South End Protection Area Demolition Policy
- South End Protection Area Standards & Criteria
- South End Protection Area Sub-district Map
- Information About Funding Historic Preservation
- Archeology Department
- Archives Department
- Boston Public Library
- Boston Planning and Redevelopment Agency
- Community Preservation Act
- Disabilities Commission
- Environment Department
- Fire Department
- Inspectional Services Department
- Language and Communications Access
- Neighborhood Services
- Parks & Recreation Department
- Public Works Department
- South End Historic Society
- Transportation Department
- Zoning Board of Appeals
2023 SELDC agendas
- SELDC agenda January 3, 2023
- SELDC agenda February 7, 2023
- SELDC agenda March 7, 2023
- SELDC agenda April 4, 2023
- SELDC agenda May 2, 2023
- SELDC agenda June 6, 2023
- SELDC agenda July 5, 2023
- SELDC agenda August 1, 2023
- SELDC agenda September 5, 2023
- SELDC agenda October 3, 2023
- SELDC agenda November 7, 2023
- SELDC agenda December 5, 2023
2022 SELDC agendas
- SELDC agenda January 4, 2022
- SELDC agenda February 1, 2022
- SELDC agenda March 1, 2022
- SELDC agenda April 5, 2022
- SELDC agenda May 3, 2022
- SELDC agenda June 7, 2022
- SELDC agenda July 5, 2022
- SELDC agenda August 2, 2022
- SELDC agenda September 7, 2022
- SELDC agenda October 4, 2022
- SELDC agenda November 1, 2022
- SELDC agenda December 6, 2022
2021 SELDC agendas
- SELDC agenda January 5, 2021
- SELDC agenda February 2, 2021
- SELDC agenda March 2, 2021
- SELDC agenda April 6, 2021
- SELDC agenda May 4, 2021
- SELDC agenda June 1, 2021
- SELDC agenda July 6, 2021
- SELDC agenda August 3, 2021
- SELDC agenda August 19, 2021
- SELDC agenda September 7, 2021
- SELDC agenda October 5, 2021
- SELDC agenda November 2, 2021
- SELDC agenda December 7, 2021
2020 SELDC agendas
- SELDC agenda January 7, 2020
- SELDC agenda February 4, 2020
- SELDC agenda March 3, 2020
- SELDC agenda March 17, 2020
- SELDC agenda April 7, 2020
- SELDC agenda May 5, 2020
- SELDC agenda May 11, 2020
- SELDC agenda May 18, 2020
- SELDC agenda June 2, 2020
- SELDC agenda July 7, 2020
- SELDC agenda July 30, 2020
- SELDC agenda August 4, 2020
- SELDC agenda September 1, 2020
- SELDC agenda October 6, 2020
- SELDC agenda November 5, 2020
- SELDC agenda December 1, 2020
2023 SELDC minutes
- SELDC minutes January 3, 2023
- SELDC minutes February 7, 2023
- SELDC minutes March 7, 2023
- SELDC minutes April 4, 2023
- SELDC minutes May 2, 2023
- SELDC minutes June 6, 2023
- SELDC minutes July 5, 2023
- SELDC minutes August 1, 2023
- SELDC minutes September 5, 2023
- SELDC minutes October 3, 2023
- SELDC minutes November 7, 2023
- SELDC minutes December 5, 2023
2022 SELDC minutes
- SELDC minutes January 4, 2022
- SELDC minutes February 1, 2022
- SELDC minutes March 1, 2022
- SELDC minutes April 5, 2022
- SELDC minutes May 3, 2022
- SELDC Minutes June 7, 2022
- SELDC Minutes July 5, 2022
- SELDC Minutes August 2, 2022
- SELDC Minutes September 7, 2022
- SELDC Minutes October 4, 2022
- SELDC Minutes November 1, 2022
- SELDC Minutes December 6, 2022
2021 SELDC minutes
- SELDC minutes January 5, 2021
- SELDC minutes February 2, 2021
- SELDC minutes March 2, 2021
- SELDC minutes April 6, 2021
- SELDC minutes May 4, 2021
- SELDC minutes June 1, 2021
- SELDC minutes July 6, 2021
- SELDC minutes August 3, 2021
- SELDC minutes August 19, 2021
- SELDC minutes September 7, 2021
- SELDC minutes October 14, 2021
- SELDC minutes November 2, 2021
- SELDC minutes December 7, 2021
2020 SELDC minutes
- SELDC minutes January 6, 2020
- SELDC minutes February 4, 2020
- SELDC minutes March 3, 2020
- SELDC minutes March 17, 2020 - (Canceled)
- SELDC minutes April 7, 2020 - (Canceled)
- SELDC minutes May 5, 2020
- SELDC minutes May 11, 2020
- SELDC minutes May 18, 2020
- SELDC minutes June 2, 2020
- SELDC minutes July 7, 2020
- SELDC minutes July 30, 2020
- SELDC minutes August 4, 2020
- SELDC minutes September 1, 2020
- SELDC minutes October 6, 2020
- SELDC minutes November 5, 2020 - (rescheduled from November 3, 2020)
- SELDC minutes December 1, 2020
SELDC 2023 recordings
- SELDC January 3, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC February 7, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC March 7, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC April 4, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC May 2, 2023 hearing recording
- SELDC June 6, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC July 5, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC August 1, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC September 5, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC October 3, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC November 7, 2023, hearing recording
- SELDC December 5, 2023, hearing recording
SELDC 2022 recordings
- SELDC January 4, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC February 1, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC March 1, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC April 5, 2022, hearing recording (file too large to upload, email staff for copy)
- SELDC May 3, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC June 7, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC July 5, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC August 2, 2022, hearing recording (file too large to upload, email staff for copy)
- SELDC September 6, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC October 4, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC November 1, 2022, hearing recording
- SELDC December 6, 2022, hearing recording (file too large to upload, email staff for copy)
SELDC 2021 recordings
- SELDC January 5, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC February 2, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC March 2, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC April 6, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC May 4, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC June 1, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC July 6, 2021 hearing recording
- SELDC August 3. 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC September 7, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC October 5, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC November 2, 2021, hearing recording
- SELDC December 7, 2021, hearing recording
SELDC 2020 recordings
- SELDC January 7, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC February 4, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC March 3, 2020, rearing recording
- SELDC March 17, 2020, hearing recording (unavailable; canceled)
- SELDC April 7, 2020, hearing recording (unavailable; canceled)
- SELDC May 5, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC May 11, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC May 18, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC June 2, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC July 7, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC July 30, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC August 4, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC September 1, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC October 6, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC November 5, 2020, hearing recording
- SELDC December 1, 2020, hearing recording
Commission Info
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Department:
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Authority:State
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Term:3 years
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Stipend:No
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Total Seats:7
Current members
Member | Appointed | Expires | Status |
---|---|---|---|
John Amodeo | 3/27/2024 | 1/20/2027 | Active |
John Freeman | 3/27/2024 | 1/20/2027 | Active |
Christopher DeBord | 3/27/2024 | 1/20/2027 | Active |
Felicia Jacques | 3/27/2024 | 1/20/2027 | Active |
Catherine Hunt | 3/27/2024 | 1/20/2027 | Active |
Kevin Ready | 8/28/2024 | Active |