Historic Boston Incorporated 1999 Preservation Revolving Fund Casebook : Property
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| Townhouses in Bay Village | Central Business District |
| • Federal-era townhouses
gutted by fire in 1980s • In one of downtown Boston’s most desirable residential neighborhoods • Faces demolition by neglect despite protected status within Bay Village Local Historic District • Owner controls adjacent parking lot and reportedly wants to take down the building to increase parking |
 |
| Name: Townhouses in Bay Village | Bldg SqFt: 768 (each) | Lot SqFt: 700 (each) | |
| Address: 17 & 19 Shawmut Street | Ward: 5 | Parcel: 129, 130 | |
| Neighborhood: Central Business District | Zoning: Row House Residential Subdistrict (RH) | ||
| Year Built: c. 1840 | Use: N/A | ||
| Style: Federal | Condition: Demolished | ||
| Architect(s): Unknown | Owner: Vassilios Kotzampaltiris 222 Stuart Street Boston, MA 02116 |
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| Historic Certification: Bay Village Local Historic District (M.G.L. Chapter 40C) | |||
| FY99 Building Assessment: $65,400 FY02 Building Assessment: N/A |
FY99 Tax: $1,680 FY02 Tax: $245 |
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| FY99 Land Assessment: $60,600 FY02 Land Assessment: $22,300 |
Tax Status: Current | ||
Preservation Strategy:
HBI should propose undertaking a pre-development feasibility study with the owners.
Significance:
Bay Village was one of the first areas of Boston to open for development as a result of the city's efforts to reclaim the marshes and mudflats of the Back Bay. In 1825 the city built a dam to drain the area north of Washington Street where the Shawmut Peninsula narrowed into the isthmus that connected Boston to the mainland, creating a usable stretch of dry land between Charles and Arlington Streets. The area developed as a residential neighborhood of modest brick townhouses from the late 1820s through the 1840s. Many early deeds included restrictions on height, setback, and construction materials, resulting in the harmonious appearance of the district still evident today. The townhouses located at 17-19 Shawmut Street display typical elements of Bay Village construction, including recessed entries, granite foundation, lintels, and sills, and pedimented dormers.
Preservation Challenges:
The building is not threatened by demolition because of its location within a Local Historic District. A fire gutted the building in the 1980s and the current owner has not made repairs to date. The continued neglect of the property is a detriment to the neighborhood and could result in irreversible damage to the building.
Neighborhood Context:
Bay Village is a desirable residential neighborhood. Local Historic District status protects properties within the district from demolition and unsympathetic alterations. The district is within short walking distance of downtown, Chinatown, Back Bay, South End, the Boston Common, and the Theater District. The property at 17-19 Shawmut Street abuts a parking lot and a modern hotel on Stuart Street outside of the historic district.
Other Sources of Information:
Bay Village Historic District Study Commission Report, Fall 1979
Entry Completed: 05/18/1999
Between May and the beginning of November 1999 the owner removed the building's star-shaped anchors, disconnected downspouts, removed gates over doorways, and opened the attic windows to the elements. He then applied for a demolition permit from the City's Inspectional Services Department. ISD consulted with the Bay Village Historic District Commission, which voted on November 12th to deny the application for demolition. At that meeting Historic Boston, having previously proposed to undertake a feasibility study, publicly offered to pay to stabilize the building, in exchange for a secured interest in the property. The owner did not respond to these offers and instead applied to the state's Department of Public Safety for a demolition permit. The state allowed the owner to proceed, and by the end of November the buildings were demolished. Since then the neighborhood has blocked the owner's efforts to expand his adjacent parking facility onto the property.Update Entry Completed: 08/09/2002
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