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Historic Takoma, Inc.
Preserving the Heritage of Takoma Park–MD & Takoma–DC Celebrating 25 Years of Service to the Community 1979–2004. |
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Historic Takoma, Inc.
Preserving the Heritage of Takoma Park–MD & Takoma–DC Celebrating 25 Years of Service to the Community 1979–2004. |
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Takoma Park MD Historic Preservation Committee
Takoma Park, MD, is home to many of the original grand Victorian homes of Takoma Park. It has housing from every period of the century. The shops of Old Town Takoma Park provide a great variety of unique food and merchandise. Every Sunday Takoma Park hosts a lively Farmers Market downtown at the intersection of Laurel and Eastern. The city also hosts annual events to celebrate musical and cultural diversity and local talent. Out of an interest to promote and conserve the range and diversity of these historical and cultural resources, the newly formed Maryland Historic Preservation Committee has begun meeting. About nine volunteers currently attend the meetings. The committee invites guest speakers and plans projects to promote and protect the city’s rich historic heritage. 1. Guest speakers At the first meeting, Corri Jimenez, a planner at the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, distributed reference materials and described the county’s historic preservation process. Gwen Wright, a senior staff person at the county historic preservation commission, spoke last month about county legislation and enforcement, specifically addressing questions about demolition by neglect. 2. Priorities The committee has identified a list of 10 priorities. Top priorities include education, monitoring of neglected buildings, and documentation. Currently, the group would like to produce a brochure to educate property owners about their historic district: what it means to own a contributing property, what are available resources, et cetera. With two realtors on the committee, there is discussion of the role of realtors in promoting awareness about historic properties. The committee is also compiling a list of endangered and neglected properties in and outside of the historic district, and planning how to address properties that are in danger of demolition by neglect. It will also be more closely monitoring permit applications and renovation projects to historic buildings. Thirdly, the committee is discussing the possibility of expanding the boundaries of the current historic district, which would include taking stock of the condition of current structures. 3. Action plan Over the next few months, the above three priorities will be developed, as the group investigates volunteer and funding resources and the potential assistance of students from the University of Maryland, and becomes more educated on the preservation issues and processes in the county. For more information or to volunteer, contact our MD preservation Chair at mdpreservationE-MAIL DISABLED DUE TO SPAM--PLEASE USE getinfo at historictakoma.org Related Links (more to come)
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