Historic Boston Incorporated

The Old Corner Bookstore

Strengthening Community through Historic Preservation

About HBI Revolving Fund Steeples Project HBInsights Newsletter Partners & Resources
		HBI Mission Statement Historic Boston Incorporated (HBI) is a private, non-profit organization that puts people and resources together to preserve endangered historic sites in the city of Boston. It gives priority to projects that will leverage additional public and private commitments, embody thoughtful restoration standards, catalyze neighborhood renewal, and protect significant cultural resources.


		Preservation Priorities Plan Over the past several years, in response to changes in leadership at HBI, the dynamics of the city, and the preservation movement more generally, HBI's directors and staff entered into a strategic planning process to examine how to redirect our efforts to maximize our effectiveness. This process and the resulting exchange of ideas helped HBI directors and staff to better understand Boston's most pressing preservation needs and led to the creation of the Preservation Priorities Plan. more...

Image courtesy of the Dorchester Atheneum

Historic Neighborhood Centers Program

HBI’s newest program, Historic Neighborhood Centers, focuses on Boston’s local commercial districts that form hubs of economic activity and civic life in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and that are home to important, often underused or vulnerable historic resources.

The program uses the tools of historic preservation to build stronger neighborhoods by undertaking planning processes, developing educational initiatives, and completing rehabilitation projects that preserve the city of Boston’s heritage, stimulate economic development, and engage citizens with the history and cultural development of their community.

To implement Historic Neighborhood Centers, HBI has partnered with Boston Main Streets, a nationally recognized, city-wide commercial district revitalization program. After a competitive selection process in the fall of 2007, HBI selected two Main Streets districts—Fields Corner in Dorchester and Cleary and Logan Squares in Hyde Park—for the pilot round of the program.

A planning process underway in these districts is engaging local stakeholders to define needs, prioritize them, and develop work plans for a project-focused implementation phase, which will last from two to five years, depending on the needs of each district.

“Hyde Park Gets Historic Support” Bulletin Newspaper, December 27, 2007

“Fields Corner Area Chosen for Widespread Restoration” Dorchester Reporter, December 20, 2007

Steeples Project grant recipient group photo

Steeples Project Program

HBI regularly invites Boston congregations of all faiths to apply for Steeples Project preservation grants for technical assistance, major repairs, and/or lighting projects. Since 1993, 52 congregations have received Steeples Project grants. In addition to the award, grant recipients receive hands-on project management assistance and training from HBI. Steeples Project grants are not limited to the preservation of steeples.

Historic Boston Incorporated, 3 School Street, Boston, MA, 02108
Tel: 617-227-4679 | Fax 617-742-7431
Email: klh@historicboston.org

questions or comments about this site? email: jillian@historicboston.org
site updated: 03/23/2008