The Commission has agreed to consider providing the area with that status, which could impact Fort Point Channel's development. Boston Wharf Co. owns 50 properties in the district and Beacon Capital Partners owns 6.8 acres here, which it plans to develop into two office buildings, residential housing and 1,200 parking spaces.

"Beacon accepts further study of the issue," Alex McCallum, Beacon's spokesperson, tells GlobeSt.com. "We are taking it one step at a time."

In a letter to the Landmarks Commission, Beacon Capital senior vice president Doug Mitchell emphasizes that the company believes that new construction can be accommodated within a proposed Landmark District, "in order to provide for economically feasible rehabilitation of existing, historically significant buildings." The designation could take months or even years to win approval.