Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975 is hereby amended in Section 5 by adding the following sub-section:

(f) No permit, regardless of zoning code eligibility, shall be issued by the building commissioner of the City of Boston for any reconstruction, restoration, exterior or interior replacement or alteration or demolition of any building in the South Boston District of Boston built before January 1, 1920 and not otherwise designated a landmark, unless a public review process is conducted by the Commission within a reasonable period of time after the application. Said review process shall be required before an owner or designee is issued any permit relative to the property and within the authority of the building commissioner to do so. Based on said public review process, and upon the presentation of a petition signed by no less than 100 registered residents of the immediate and adjacent residential areas, with a description of why the structure, façade or landscape is of local significance to South Boston, the commissioner shall refer the subject property to the Landmarks Commission for historic designation.