Every year, thousands of people turn their dreams into a reality and relocate to Boston, whether it be for school, work, or just a change of scenery. It’s important to note when planning your move to Boston that the city has a high quality of living and a high cost of living. In the city’s metropolitan area, there are dozens of gorgeous neighborhoods that are sought after.
If you’ve got a flexible budget and are looking for the best of Boston, we recommend checking out Beacon Hill. We’ll get into the history and architecture of the neighborhood later. First, let’s talk about the most famous apartments in the area.
The Beacon Hill condos are perhaps the most famous part of this neighborhood. Cobblestoned line the road, connecting the condos, many of which are older than the United States itself. Strolling through evening time in Beacon Hill is magical, as the gas-lit street lights come on once the sun starts going down. The condos here range anywhere from $10 to $15 million dollars.
Beacon Hill is the oldest of the nine historical districts in Boston. In 1955, Beacon Hill was given its historical status due to the incredible landmarks in the neighborhood: the Massachusetts State House, a passageway from the Underground Railway, and its iconic shops. Nowadays, when you walk through Beacon Hill, you’ll notice lots of antique shops, expensive restaurants, gorgeous homes, and narrow streets. Beacon Hill is quintessential Boston and is perhaps the most charming neighborhood in the city.
There is a commission in Beacon Hill that oversees how the historic district is managed. There are neighborhood-specific rules and guidelines regarding the exteriors of buildings. These rules don’t apply only to business and shops, but many homes in the area as well.
According to Boston City Hall, Beacon Hill got its name from a beacon that at one point was perched on a hill in the area to warn people about any invasions from enemies. In 1795, construction began in the area, with the State House being built and residential developments following subsequently. Also in 1795, the Mount Vernon Proprietors, comprising six very wealthy men, was created. This organization is considered to be the first land development group in the country. In 1797, the State House was finally completed, and a new residential community was developed in 1800.
Beacon Hill was designated a historical district of Boston in 1955. This was occurring around the same time that Boston’s West End, which is right across Cambridge Street from Beacon Hill, was being threatened with demolition. Because it’s now a historic district, Beacon Hill has almost eight full pages of guidelines and architectural regulations that contractors must abide by.
There are three types of architecture that sum up Beacon Hill in its early period:
Freestanding Mansions: these homes, though there were not too many of them built, had large plots of land surrounding a large public square
Pairs of houses that are symmetrical in design
Row house: multiple attached houses with the same design
Greek Revival is known as a simpler version of Federal Style. Buildings are often constructed with Quincy granite or brick.
There are a wide scope of guidelines for Beacon Hill, in the following classifications: brick work, rooftops, windows, entryways, trim, paint, ironwork, signs, memorial plaques, and road furniture. These guidelines don't simply apply to structures inside the historical area. They also apply to bordering areas, like the Boston Common, Storrow Drive, the Longfellow Bridge, and Cambridge Street. The guidelines encourage contractors to repair pre-existing structures instead of building entirely new ones.
Building cleanings are also something that is regulated closely in Beacon Hill. You need authorization to clean brick work, as "the obscuring after some time of building exteriors will in general deliver an unmistakable and uniform appearance and on the grounds that wrong cleaning practices may cause irreversible harm to the workmanship,'' as indicated by the guidelines. Any paint tests that you wish to do must be submitted to the commission before, and neon lights and electrical signs are also banned.