The Home Front: Belmont’s Historic District Commission
John Kolis
Settled in 1636 and incorporated in 1859, there is a lot of history packed into the 4.7 square miles of Belmont, “The Town of Homes.” 60% of Belmont’s 10,000 homes were built before 1940. Preserving the history of the town’s architecture is, in large part, the responsibility of the Belmont Historic District Commission. The commission creates an inventory of historic properties in the town and makes determinations of significance under the Demolition Delay Bylaw.
The commission is composed of seven full members and three alternates that are appointed by Belmont’s Select Board. In accordance with the bylaw, the members are drawn from various professional disciplines and representations including architecture, landscape architecture, historical society representative, historic district resident and a realtor.