Fall/Winter 2015
FREDERICK NEWEL POST Historic Preservation News for the City of Frederick
HPC ACTION:
FORMER FREDERICK COUNTY JAIL PROTECTED
January-June 2015 Total completed cases:
157 (100%)
Total cases approved:
155 (98.7%)
HPC:
60 (38.2%)
Administrative:
95 (60.5%)
Cases denied:
2
(1.2%)
To see if your application may be reviewed administratively, consult the Historic Preservation Division page of the Planning Department website or contact a Historic Preservation Planner. CONTACT STAFF You can schedule a meeting with Preservation Planning Staff to discuss your proposal even before the application deadline. Getting any questions answered about the Guidelines or HPC process and making sure your application is technically complete will help to facilitate the application process in the long run. Call the Planning Department at 301-600-1499 and ask to speak with a Historic Preservation Planner. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE p. 3…………..2015 Preservation Awards p. 4……………Wood Window Workshop p. 4……Historic Preservation Tax Credit p. 4………….……What Building Is This? p. 5………..……….New Commissioners p. 5………..…………..MAHDC Directory p. 6 ….......................................Schedule
Historic image of the former Frederick County Jail
After the loss of several historic properties, the City of Frederick established a demolition review process in 2013 to ensure that potentially significant buildings are not demolished without public notice and the opportunity to evaluate their eligibility for historic designation. Since that time, the review process spurred several designation applications by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and successfully protected a historic farm complex and mill house from demolition. Most recently the City designated the former Frederick County Jail located on West South Street after it was submitted for demolition review. The facility was constructed by notable Baltimore Architect, Frank E. Davis (1839-1921). The old jail was constructed in 1876 and was used as a prison for 109 years. It fea-
tured many traditional jail design elements from that era including the Sheriff’s house, jail, and jail yard with 22’ tall brick walls. The building also incorporated several features spurred by nineteenth-century prison reform ideals including wide corridors, large vents and segregated prison cells. The most prominent feature from the front of the property is the large Sheriff’s house that largely obscures the jailhouse at the rear and helped maintain the residential feeling of the neighborhood. The threestory jail house is tucked away behind massive brick walls. The former jail held both non-violent offenders as well as prisoners who had committed serious crimes. In total, four men were executed within the jail yard; the last occurring in November 1922. Today, the property is used by the Rescue Mission.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGNATIONS In November 2009 the Mayor and Board of Aldermen adopted the City of Frederick Comprehensive Plan 2010 Update. The plan includes a Heritage Resource Element (HRE) that provides policies and implementation recommendations supporting preservation of properties and sites that possess historic or archaeological significance and contribute to the City’s heritage. It also includes a list of properties and districts identified as potentially eligible for Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) designation. To implement the HRE, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Designation Committee began meeting in November 2011 and concluded that financial incentives, improved guidelines, and historical research and documentation should be in place before pursuing new designations. Over the course of 20122013, the Committee supported City staff in the creation of a new Historic Preservation Property Tax Credit (adopted July 2012, increased from 10% to 25% in December 2014) and a CLG Subgrant was used to research and prepare Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties forms for the resources listed in the Plan. Additionally, the Committee met during 2013 to prepare design guidelines which were approved the by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen in December 2014.
The Schley House
phased manner starting with Neighborhood Advisory Council Area 12. On June 11, 2015, the Committee recommended the HPC make an application to designate the following four properties:
Frederick City Packing Company, 106 Commerce Street
Schley House, 423 East Patrick Street
Ox Fibre Brush Company, 400 East Church Street
Union Manufacturing Company, 332340 East Patrick Street
The HPC concurred with this recommendation. Subsequently staff has completed additional research and made presentations to NAC 12 and at a HPC workshop. At the public hearing on October 22, 2015, the HPC voted unanimously to recommend designation of these four site to the Planning Commission and Mayor and Board of Aldermen. This will be the first of several phases of designation applications unrelated to the demolition review ordinance.
NEW GUIDELINES In 2007 the Board of Aldermen adopted a second set of design guidelines—the Guidelines for Individual Properties and Small Districts—to address HPC review of designated sites and district outside of the Frederick Town Historic District. At that time there was only one such property Since that time the Comprehensive Plan was updated to include a list of districts and individual properties identified as potentially eligible for Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) designation. This list included districts and properties with resource types that were not addressed in the Guidelines for Individual Properties and Small Districts or the Frederick Town Historic District (FTHD) Design Guidelines. In 2013 the HPC Designation Committee determined that it was important to have updated design guidelines before moving forward with any proposals to designate properties on the list and spent over a year working on them in conjunction with City staff while seeking input from property owners. The improved Guidelines for Individual Landmarks and Small Historic Districts were approved by the Board of Aldermen in January 2015. These new guidelines address both individual sites and districts as well as other resource types, such as agricultural resources, that are not addressed in previous versions or the FTHD Design Guidelines.
The original 1889 hosiery mill of the Union Manufacturing Company
Most recently the Committee met in May 2015 and came to a consensus to forward a recommendation that the HPC pursue the designation of the properties listed in the Comprehensive Plan in a 2
The Ox Fibre Brush Company Factory Visit us at www.cityoffrederick.com/preservation
2015 CITY OF FREDERICK HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation Award
Jeffrey D. Hurwitz and Caroline Gessert for the carriage house at 101 East Patrick Street.
Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation Award
Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation Award
CAS Engineering for 10 South Bentz Street.
Community Leadership Award
Stewardship Award
The Schifferstadt Architectural Museum Heritage Garden for their extraordinary service in historic preservation. Carolyn Greiner and Paul Wade for 24-26 South Court Street.
Craftsmanship Award
McCaskill Financial for 220 West Patrick Street.
THIS PLACE MATTERS
Brian Fisher (left center) for demonstrating an understanding of and effective professional practice in working with historic buildings and sites.
Frederick Preservation Trust (left) for the Birely Tannery and McCaskill Financial (above) for 220 West Patrick Street. Visit us at www.cityoffrederick.com/preservation
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WOOD WINDOW WORKSHOP Thanks in part to a grant from the Maryland Historical Trust; the City of Frederick was able to host a wood window repair and weatherization workshop on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Staley Park. The workshop served as a training opportunity for Historic Preservation Commission members and interested members of the public. David Gibney, a local restoration contractor and window repair expert, served as the instructor. He helped found the Window Preservation Stand-
WHAT BUILDING IS THIS?
ards Collaborative and is listed among the authors of the organization's "Window Preservation Standards" catalog. The workshop covered the basic components of historic windows and how they operate as well as how to take them apart in order to make repairs. They also demonstrated specific tools, techniques and products that homeowners can utilize to make necessary repairs themselves. Sign up for the historic preservation email list to get notified of future workshops and preservation-related events.
(1) This prominent Italianate-style building features a copper fret above its early twentieth-century storefront.
(2) This early twentieth-century service building features steel pivot windows, an early type of industrial window that was inexpensive and low maintenance.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS
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(3) This distinctive cornice with scroll brackets is characteristic of houses built by Irish-born Frederick carpenter John Tehan.
ANSWERS: (1) 52 N. Market Street (2) Antique Emporium 2 at 112 E. Patrick Street (3) 233 E. 2nd Street.
Since the historic preservation property tax credit was increased from 10% to 25% of eligible expenditures in late 2014, the number of property owners that have benefitted from this program has jumped from six awarded in FY14 to 32 awarded in FY15. A total of $438,784.85 was invested in the historic district by the 32 property owners for a total credit amount of $78,304.71—that’s an average credit of approximately $2,400 per applicant. This increase was also due in part to the maximum credit amount being increased from $5,000 to $7,500 and the minimum eligible expenditures being reduced from $1,000 to $500. The tax credit application deadline for expenditures incurred during FY16 is April 1, 2016 and will be credited to FY17 property taxes. As a reminder, eligible work must have prior HPC approval and a permit or be for eligible work on the Minor Rehabilitation List in order to qualify. More information can be found at www.cityoffrederick.com/ preservation.
Visit us at www.cityoffrederick.com/preservation
WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Dan Lawton has been a Frederick resident for most of his life, and currently lives and works in the Historic District. He received a BA in Architecture from Columbia University, and has always had a strong interest in all things historic. Lawton is committed to the preservation of the Historic District because it significantly contributes to the economic vitality of the City of Frederick and to a higher quality of life for residents and visitors. He also believes strongly that the Commission should use a common sense approach, and act as a helpful resource to applicants whenever possible. Dan previously served on the Historic Preservation Commission for 9 years (8 as chairman), and is happy to have another opportunity to serve the community.
Alan Miner is a registered architect with more than 20 years of experience in all phases of architectural design and construction. After earning his architectural degrees from the University of Michigan (BS ’92, M. Arch ’95), he moved to the Frederick area in the late 1990s and currently lives in Brunswick with his wife, Jennifer, and three children, Ailee, Daniel, and Kate.
Matthew Bonin has held a passion for history and architecture almost his entire life. Upon his acceptance to Roger Williams University, Matthew made a last minute change to his course of study from Historic Preservation to Education. After earning his degrees in History and Secondary Education, Matthew went on to teach at both the high and middle school levels.
After working for a firm in Gaithersburg for more than 12 years, he and his partner founded Miner Feinstein Architects, LLC, in 2008. The firm opened its first office in 2011 on W. Patrick Street and currently occupies a space in the historic Francis Scott Key Hotel. Mr. Miner has always had an interest in the built environment and over the years has had many opportunities to work on historic structures as restorations and adaptive reuse projects.
Moving to Maryland for a change in his career , Matthew was eager to find a place to call home. That home came in the way of downtown Frederick. As a proud resident and homeowner in the city, Matthew is looking forward to this opportunity to serve its citizens on the Historic Preservation Commission.
MARYLAND HISTORIC RESTORATION CONTRACTOR DIRECTORY Although the Historic Preservation Commission and The City of Frederick do not recommend or endorse any companies or contractors, it is good practice to consider the experience of anyone you may hire in working with historic buildings. Rehabilitating historic buildings, particularly those in designated historic districts or sites, often requires specialized knowledge and understanding of applicable regulations. The Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions (MAHDC) has recently launched a Maryland Historic Restoration Contractor Directory to help connect property owners with all types of historic preservation specialists, but especially craftspeople that can assist in the repair and maintenance of historic properties. As always you should take the time to verify the qualifications of anyone you hire yourself, but this new directory is an excellent place to start. If you are or know of a skilled mason, building contractor, engineer, carpenter, plasterer, or window conservator, consider a listing in the Maryland Historic Restoration Contractor Directory. Information on joining the Directory can be found here. Visit us at www.cityoffrederick.com/preservation
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Planning Department 140 West Patrick Street Frederick, Maryland 21701 Phone 301-600-1499 Fax 301-600-1837 Mayor Randy McClement Aldermen Kelly Russell, President Pro Tem Michael C. O’Connor Philip Dacey Josh Bokee Donna Kuzemchak Historic Preservation Commission Scott Winnette, DMin, Chairman Stephen Parnes, Vice Chairman Carrie Albee Rebecca Cybularz Dan Lawton Alan Miner Michael Simons Matthew Bonin, Alternate Donna Kuzemchak, Aldermanic Liaison
Deputy Director of Public Works for Planning Joseph Adkins, AICP Manager of Comprehensive Planning Matthew Davis, AICP Historic Preservation Staff Lisa Mroszczyk Murphy, AICP Historic Preservation Planner 301-600-6278 lmroszczyk@cityoffrederick.com Christina Martinkosky Historic Preservation Planner 301-600-1831 cmartinkosky@cityoffrederick.com Shannon Pyles Administrative Assistant 301-600-2995 spyles@cityoffrederick.com
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2016 SCHEDULE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Application deadline Dec. 3, 2015 January 7 January 21 February 4 February 18 March 3 March 17 April 7 April 21 May 5 May 19 June 2 June 16 July 7
Public hearing January 14 January 28 February 11 February 25 March 10 March 24 April 14 April 28 May 12 May 26 June 9 June 23 July 14 July 28