Frequently Asked Questions About the Monument Square Landmark District

Q: What is the Monument Square Landmark District Study Committee and why does it exist?

In 2022, the Boston Landmarks Commission accepted a petition from Charlestown residents to study the creation of a Monument Square Landmark District in Charlestown. The Study Committee was appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council to review the historic, architectural, and archaeological significance of the properties in and around Monument Square. The Study Committee’s main job is to evaluate and recommend boundaries and standards that could guide future design review should a district be designated.

Q: What is a Landmark District and what is a Protection Area?

A: Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975 (the law that created the Boston Landmarks Commission), defines a Landmark District as:

an area containing any physical features or improvements or both which are of historical, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to the city and the commonwealth, the New England region or the nation and cause such area to constitute a distinctive section of the city.

A Protection Area is defined as:

an area which is contiguous to and constitutes an essential part of the physical environment of any architectural conservation district, landmark or landmark district.

There is a substantial difference in level of regulation between the two. A Landmark District can require design review for exterior alterations (see below). In a Protection Area, only demolition, land coverage, structure height, landscape, and topography can be regulated.

Q: Is there going to be a Landmark District and Protection Area established? What is the timeline, and when can I comment?

A: That is still to be determined. On September 24, 2026, the Study Committee released a working study report for the public to review and comment on the draft recommendations.  The Study Committee has concluded that the areas shown in Figure 1 of the working study report do meet the criteria for a Landmark District and Protection Area based on (1) their review of the initial petition, (2), their study of the historic, architectural, and archaeological significance of the area, and (3) the public feedback collected at two neighborhood walks and a community meeting held in Charlestown as well as the committee’s working meetings, numerous emails, conversations at public events, and other avenues. 

Another community meeting will be held on October 21, 2026. The study report will then be updated based on public input. 

After the study report is revised, it will be presented at at least two formal public hearings, where additional verbal testimony and written comments will be collected before any vote by the City’s Landmarks Commission. The first of these hearings is tentatively slated for January 12, 2026, and it will be followed by further revisions to the study report based on public feedback. The second hearing date is still TBD. Any final designation would still require approval by the Mayor and City Council. 

Q: Why would I want this?

A: Many people, both within and outside of Charlestown, love Charlestown for its historic character and beautiful architecture. However, there are currently no protections against the demolition or extensive alteration of Charlestown’s historic buildings other than eight individually Landmarked properties. Charlestown residents submitted the Monument Square Landmark District petition after witnessing several historic buildings in Charlestown get demolished or irrevocably altered. The establishment of a Landmark District and Protection Area allows a neighborhood to evolve and change in a managed way, so that the special qualities of its built environment are protected and preserved for both the people of today and future generations.

The designation of a district results in an additional layer of regulation over the designated properties. However, it also provides substantial benefits to property owners. Becoming part of a district gives property owners more of a voice in the changes that happen around them, which can help to protect and preserve quality of life and neighborhood character. It can also make available free technical guidance from the Landmarks Commission and Commission staff, who are experts in the field of historic preservation; this can help protect property owners from bad advice or unscrupulous work that will damage their property.

Q: What is design review?

A: Design review is the process by which proposed exterior changes to a property in a Landmark District are reviewed. Only certain kinds of work require an application to the Landmarks Commission. When a property owner submits a permit application to the Building Department, the Building Department will flag your application and let you know if an application to the Landmarks Commission is required. 

Design review in historic districts does not prevent change; it manages it. The design review process is intended to identify the character-defining features of a property and guide alterations and modernization in a manner that preserves those significant architectural elements. Improvements such as HVAC equipment, satellite dishes, utility connections, and other modern features are typically located in non-character-defining areas whenever possible, allowing buildings to meet contemporary needs while maintaining the architectural character and historic integrity of the district.

Over 90% of applications are approved. Approval often happens on the administrative level, meaning that the application can be quickly recommended for approval by staff at a hearing because the proposed work satisfies the district’s standards and criteria (or is exempt. In these circumstances, the applicant does not need to appear at a hearing to defend their application. For more substantial or complex projects that do need to go to the Landmarks Commission for a public hearing, the review process provides the local community with an opportunity to give public feedback on the proposed work. 

Q: Will design review impose a financial burden on property owners?

A: It is possible that certain exterior alterations could be more expensive due to the standards and criteria requiring that they be historically and architecturally appropriate. However, the Monument Square Landmark District Study Committee has gone to great lengths to ensure that any financial burden is minimized by:

• Categorizing many of the regulations as “recommended” instead of “required.”
• Ensuring that compatible substitute materials are allowed.
• Raising the threshold for triggering archaeological review so that minor below-ground work is not reviewed.

In addition, applicants may file for a Certificate of Exemption based on financial hardship as provided for in Section 4.9 of the Regulations of the Boston Landmarks Commission.

Q: Will design review make projects take longer?

A: Design review does not substantially increase the time that a project will take. Within eight business days from the date that a completed application is filed, the Commission’s staff must determine whether the application is exempt from review. If the application is not exempt from review, then the Commission or its staff must issue a Certificate of Design Approval or a denial within 30 days of the filling of a complete application. If the Certificate of Design Approval or the denial is not issued within 30 days, then the application is considered by law to be approved (See Section 6 of Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended).

Q: What about emergency/urgent repairs?

A: Staff can expedite the review of an emergency repair application when the proposed repair is consistent with the district guidelines and is necessary to prevent further property damage or to protect the safety of the building’s occupants or the public. A member of staff will review the application and determine if it qualifies for an expedited urgent repair approval. Applicants are generally required to provide documentation demonstrating the existence of unsafe conditions, active water infiltration, or other time-sensitive circumstances that justify expedited review.

Q: Will the City tell me I can’t change my property?

A: No. There is no automatic prohibition on changes. The purpose of the district is to guide change so that it is compatible with the historic and architectural character of the neighborhood.

Q: Will the City force me to change my property?

A: No. An owner cannot be required to make any changes to their property. Design review only happens when a property owner proposes to make a change to their property.

Q: Will I need approval for ordinary things like holiday decorations?

A: No. Seasonal decorations, routine maintenance, paint color, landscaping, window air conditioning units, and similar items are generally exempt from review in most historic districts and are not being considered for regulation here.

Q: Will the City control what I do inside my house?

A: No. Interior changes would not be regulated. The regulations would focus on exterior features visible from the street so that the character of the neighborhood is preserved. 

Q: Is there an appeal process?

A: Yes. Within thirty days following a denial, an applicant may appeal the determination to the Suffolk County Superior Court. The Superior Court can annul the determination if it finds that the decision was unwarranted, exceeded authority, or unreasonably damaged the property owner (See Section 9 of Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended).