Category talk:Commercial blocks on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts

Rationale for category name?
It appears that this category was created to replace Category:Blocks on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts, possibly based in part on discussion at Category talk:Blocks on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts. I think that "commercial blocks" is probably an improvement over "blocks," but I'm still not convinced that the term is meaningful. As I said on that other talk page, I have the impression that in the late 19th century it was fashionable to use "block" as part of the name of a large commercial building. The inclusion of the word "block" in one of these names may have no more significance than the use of a word like "Center" or "Crossing" in the name of a 21st-century commercial development. --Orlady (talk) 04:55, 19 April 2010 (UTC)

Content from deleted talk page
An efficient administrator has deleted the talk page for the category "Blocks on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts". I could restore it, but because it's only apt to get deleted again, I'm copying the contents here for historical value. --Orlady (talk) 15:02, 26 April 2010 (UTC)

name of this category
If someone can come up with a more generic name and description for this collection of articles, please suggest it. Hmains (talk) 18:37, 4 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Might these be 'city blocks' or 'apartment blocks'? Hmains (talk) 18:11, 11 April 2010 (UTC)


 * The fact that "block" is part of the name under which a property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places does not mean that "block" is an appropriate generic noun that meaningfully describes the property. I have the impression that in the late 19th century it was fashionable to use "block" as part of the name of a large commercial buildings. Some buildings so named may have occupied an entire city block, but it is not valid to presume that the word "block" has that specific meaning when it appears in a property name. This category should be merged into Category:Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts. --Orlady (talk) 21:01, 18 April 2010 (UTC)

Delete category?
Following this discussion, I think this is not a meaningful category. The discussion turned up some interesting information on the meaning of "block" in the naming of 19th century buildings, but it's not clear whether the term referred to architectural style of the facade, the existence of mixed uses in one building, or the existence of multiple structures sharing a single facade. Under the circumstances, this shouldn't be a category. --Orlady (talk) 03:40, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

change
I seems that 'Commercial buildings...' would be the better, more useful name here. Hmains (talk) 15:22, 9 May 2010 (UTC)


 * "Commercial buildings" would be much more appropriate. The term "block" is too vague to be of much use.  Bms4880 (talk) 19:47, 10 May 2010 (UTC)