Boston Preservation Alliance confers 2022 Codman Award

Boston Preservation Alliance named Chinatown CLT’s executive director Lydia Lowe as the recipient of the 2022 Codman Award for Lifetime Achievement, in recognition of her determination in serving the public and preserving the cultural identity of Boston’s Chinatown as the only surviving historic ethnic Chinese enclave in New England.

This has included the work to preserve historic 19th century row houses as permanently affordable homes, development of an Immigrant History Trail to lift up and share the immigrant working class history of Chinatown and the South Cove neighborhood, partnering with artist Wen-ti Tsen to realize the Chinatown Worker Statues project, advocacy for a Row House Protection Area and other zoning code reforms to protect and support Chinatown Master Plan priorities, and exploration of both a Chinatown Historic Conservation District and a Cultural District. Lydia and Chinatown CLT’s approach to preservation is based on the principle that Chinatown’s character can only be preserved if its immigrant working class family residents and small businesses remain.

“Lydia’s leadership and advocacy are inspirational. Her passion and determination for improving the community are to the benefit of us all,” says Alison Frazee, Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance. Boston Preservation Alliance’s celebration and award event will be held at the Speedway on October 20, 2022.