8.1 Historic Context
The Project Site consists of three contiguous parcels totaling approximately 0.69 acres at the northeast corner of the Bulfinch Triangle neighborhood. Prior to European settlement, the neighborhood existed as a marshy tidal area of the Charles River. First converted to a mill pond in the 17th century, the area was fully infilled in the early 19th century and streets were laid out in a triangular pattern according to a plan by Charles Bulfinch. The Bulfinch Triangle’s initial development after its infill included travel-related businesses such as hotels, stables, and bars. By the 1870s
development of buildings associated with furniture manufacturing and sales became predominant, including light manufacturing, storage, and office space. The historic character of the Bulfinch Triangle was significantly altered by the construction of the Central Artery which resulted in the demolition of all of the buildings on several blocks in the neighborhood. Today, surviving historic buildings dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries are primarily concentrated in the portion of the Bulfinch Triangle to the west of the former Central Artery, with modern construction located on several blocks comprising the Central Artery’s former path through the neighborhood. The Project Site is located to the east of the former Central Artery in close proximity to this modern construction.
