LMA—The Boston Preservation Alliance (BPA) will soon start receiving money from Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) to conduct a survey of the Longwood Medical and Academic Area’s (LMA) historic buildings, according to BPA Executive Director Greg Galor.
As part of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the BLC and BCH over the hospital’s plan to tear down the century-old 55 Shattuck St. building, BPA is being paid $40,000 for the survey. An MOA is a document formally describing a relationship. That MOA was formed in 2014.
BCH is in the process of demolishing the 55 Shattuck St. building, along with the historic Prouty Garden, and replacing them with a new clinical building. Site work has begun on the project.
Galer said had been checking-in with BCH to inquire about the money and it was unclear when exactly it should be disbursed. But, he said, BCH decided to move forward with the payment to maintain “good relations.”
“We should start seeing the money relatively soon,” said Galer.
The survey will be used to update and expand existing records held by the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) and the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
The Friends of Historic Mission Hill had unsuccessfully petitioned the Boston Landmarks Commission to landmark the 55 Shattuck St. building. That would have prevented BCH from tearing the building down. According to the Friends of Historic Mission Hill, the building was originally a hospital for infants, starting in 1914, before being purchased in 1921 to become the headquarters for the Harvard School of Public Health, according to the statement. During the 1970s, it was purchased by BCH, becoming an administration building.