Boston: Balancing Preservation and Growth in Brighton’s Aberdeen District

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~ Brighton's Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District: A Blend of History and Modernity

As the train chugs along the Green Line's Cleveland Circle C branch, passengers are treated to a scenic journey through Boston and Brookline. But for those looking to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and history of Brighton's Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District, this is the route to take. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, known as the father of American landscape architecture, this district boasts many of his envisioned characteristics.

As the train travels down Beacon Street, passengers can observe how this important thoroughfare transitions from bustling city streets to charming rowhouses and eventually to peaceful suburban homes. The final stop on this line is where visitors can truly experience the Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District.

A walk along Beacon Street will lead visitors to newly restored early 20th-century Classical Revival storefronts and apartment houses. This area is a vibrant mix of college students, young professionals, and long-time residents who frequent local and national businesses.

For a glimpse into Brighton's past, visitors can take a stroll up Sutherland Road to Selkirk Road. This part of the community was once a summer retreat for Bostonians seeking relief from hot summers before air conditioning was invented. It later became one of Boston's first streetcar suburbs, with residents living among leafy streets while commuting downtown for work.

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Developed in the mid-1880s with winding streets built over rocky terrain, this neighborhood reflects the Romantic suburban ideals promoted by Andrew Jackson Downing. Thanks to its designation as an Architectural Conservation District, this legacy continues while also allowing for new construction that respects the historic character that makes this neighborhood so special.

At a recent hearing on April 9th, the Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District Commission (AACDC) approved plans for four new townhouses on an empty lot. Designed by Brookline-based Sousa Design Architects, these modern structures draw inspiration from the Shingle Style homes that are prevalent in the neighborhood. The design includes details such as an Arts and Crafts-style front door, clapboard siding, and a hipped roof with dormers. Sousa Design Architects have experience working on projects in historic districts, including a recent project just up the street at 24 Selkirk where they added a historically sensitive addition to an 1880s Shingle style house, transforming it into four condominium units.

In addition to regulating architectural design, the AACDC also oversees landscape design. As part of this project, the existing mature oak trees on the site will be preserved and a stone retaining wall will be built using stone from a Roxbury puddingstone outcropping on the property. The project was approved after multiple public hearings that incorporated community feedback and various design iterations.

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According to Commission chair Sharon Cayley, "One Selkirk is a great example of how contemporary design can be thoughtfully integrated into a historic neighborhood." She also emphasized the importance of striking a balance between the built environment and natural landscape in order to maintain the defining character of the community. The success of this project was also attributed to the involvement and input of the public throughout the process.

It's worth noting that Local Historic District designations in Boston do not prevent change; rather, they manage it in order to preserve the unique character of each community while allowing for modernization and additional housing. Commissioners on the Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District are nominated by neighborhood groups, appointed by the Mayor of Boston, and serve three-year terms.

To learn more about Brighton's Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District, visit their website. And as you admire one Selkirk's rendering (courtesy of Sousa Design Architects) or take in views of Selkirk Road's landscape, remember that this article was prepared by Nicholas Armata, Senior Preservation Planner.

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