Date: Fri 30-Jun-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

a6-Main-St-Borough-historic

Full Text:

BOROUGH SEEKS TO PLACE MAIN ST ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER

BY KAAREN VALENTA

The Borough Board of Burgesses has sent a letter to John Shannahan, executive

director of the Connecticut State Historical Commission, asking that the

proposed historic district area be placed on the National Register.

Borough Warden Joan Crick said she and Burgess James Gaston sent the letter to

Mr Shannahan to start the process which will get buildings along Main Street

and part way up some adjacent streets onto the national registry of historic

places. Mr Shannahan already had indicated the commission will provide the

staff and funding for the project.

"The National Registry is only an honorary designation which won't protect the

area but at least it's a start," Mrs Crick said. "Our letter indicated that

the proposed historic district had failed by only two and one-half votes. We

sent copies of our historic district booklet but the commission is already

well aware of this area."

Mr Gaston said he was informed by the state commission that grant money may be

available which will allow the state to hire an outside consultant to put the

National Register proposal together more quickly. Otherwise, members of the

state staff will do the work.

Mr Gaston said the burgesses also presented a rough draft of a historic

overlay to the Borough Zoning Board for its consideration. "This is one way to

address use of a property based on its historical significance," he said. "But

it is not nearly as effective as a historic district. A historic district is

the real preservation tool because it helps preserve the appearance of the

structures in the district.

Mrs Crick said the Board of Burgesses is continuing to look into the

possibility of creating a smaller historic district which would include only

those properties whose owners wish to participate.

"This takes a lot of research," she said. "It is something we are exploring."

Mr Gaston said the burgesses have learned that there may be substantial grant

money available if such a district is created. Even a smaller district would

qualify for the Certified Local Government Program which provides grants for

such purposes as building restorations, educational materials, surveys and

reports.

"We might be able to get grant money to use for sidewalks or for preservation

of the Meeting House or Edmond Town Hall," Mr Gaston said, "but we would have

to create a historic district first."

Mr Gaston said a meeting will be held of the historic district study committee

within the next few weeks to decide whether to proceed. "The committee and the

residents have to want this," he said.

Paul Loether, an architectural historian on the state commission, said last

month that a smaller historic district is possible as long as all properties

within it are part of the district. "There can be jogs (around properties) but

not holes," he said.

Mr Loether, who is also a National Register specialist, said the federal

registry identifies a property or district as being worthy of preservation. It

provides a means for a citizen to sue to prevent the demolition of a National

Registry building but it can't prevent the commercialization of a property or

alterations to buildings.

Mr Shannahan said he intended to try to get Newtown on the National Register

in fiscal 1996 which begins October 1.