The Department of Neighborhood Development coordinates an annual survey of buildings in the city that ARE identified as distressed. For purposes of the survey, a distressed building is defined as:

Any residential, commercial, industrial or mixed-use building (excluding sheds and garages on residential property) that is not occupied and has visible signs of physical distress (boarded up, burned out, open to the elements, or otherwise deteriorated).

A street by street survey is conducted in target areas of the city which have historically had higher incidences of distressed properties, while areas of the city that are less impacted are surveyed less intensively. For each distressed structure, a photograph is taken and detailed characteristics recorded. This information is then matched with assessing, building permit and tax title data to develop strategies for encouraging renovation or reclamation of these properties, where appropriate.

Available on this web site is a 2008 listing by property address (this is the listing of certain property) and an interactive map of distressed property which is privately owned and not under renovation, found in the 2008 Survey. Also available is the 2008 Distressed Building Report. If you are interested in one of the listed properties, please contact the owner directly. Information on property ownership can be accessed through the City of Boston Assessing Office (www.cityofboston.gov/assessing).

Tool buttons on the map can be used to zoom in for more detail, recenter the map window or click on any distressed property to get summary information and a photographic image.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this site represents the best information in possession of the Department of Neighborhood Development at the time the survey was completed. The listing of abandoned buildings contained herein may be incomplete, inaccurate or out of date. The Department shall not be responsible for any loss or harm to anyone resulting from assumptions, actions, decisions or plans based on use of this information. Such use, including but not limited to copying, printing or reproduction of all or part of this information shall be deemed to constitute knowledge and acceptance of these provisions and disclaimers.

HOW TO GIVE AND GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The next Annual Survey of distressed buildings will take place in the fal/winterl of 2009 by the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND). In the interim if you know of a property not on this list, but that possibly should be, or a property that is no longer distressed and should be removed from the list, please contact DND at the following numbers:

Contact Name: Ron Farrar
Telephone: 617-635-0340
E-mail: rfarrar.dnd@cityofboston.gov

For information on property owners names and addresses please check the City of Boston's web site at www.cityofboston.gov/assessing/search.asp

City of Boston - Thomas M. Menino, Mayor

Department of Neighborhood Development
Evelyn Friedman, Director