Case Study Of Beacon Hill

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I. Introduction On June 26, 2015, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge issued an injunction against the City of Boston, halting the City’s replacement and upgrade of existing handicapped accessible ramps in the Boston historic district of Beacon Hill. The Beacon Hill Civic Association, a group dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of Beacon Hill, had filed suit and sought an injunction against the City arguing for the preservation of the existing ramps to maintain the historic nature of Beacon Hill. This case exemplifies the tension seen all over the world of the issue of disability accessibility of historic cultural property in competition with the preservation of this property. Looking to find an answer on the balance of disability …show more content…

The BHAC guidelines include requirements to maintaining and repairing original and historically significant materials and architectural features in Beacon Hill whenever possible and if this is not possible the BHAC requires that the new material “shall match the materials being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visible qualities.” The only exception that allows deviation from obtaining permission from for construction and alterations in Beacon Hill is if the City Building Commissioner certifies that an alternation, construction, or demolition is required in the interest of public safety because of an unsafe or dangerous condition with a building or other architectural feature on Beacon

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