Historic Preservation Guidelines help Maryland counties protect landmarks

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects is helping Harford and Frederick counties create the guidelines for protecting and preserving historical sites and properties.

Every community has a unique history that is passed down in stories and practiced in rooted traditions, but many historical details also are told through community landmarks, where those stories come to life in the details of Architecture.

It can be seen in the rich slate of Harford County, Maryland, where the rooftops not only reflect the material itself but speak to the industry that once drove the community forward. Popular hunting and horseback riding activities are mirrored in the buildings that dot the landscape.

“Every town, every neighborhood, has its own unique history,” says Rebecca McCormick, Architect with Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects. “It’s an interesting journey to dig into the history of a community and find what is so special about each place.”

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Helping two Maryland counties

Thanks in part to grant funding from the Maryland Historical Trust, both Harford and Frederick counties in Maryland are working with Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects to create Historic Preservation Guidelines. Rather than cataloging historical sites, these guidelines give the residents and community leaders a set of best practices that are reviewed by and help Architects, contractors, and the general public as they rehabilitate properties.

Historical structures are recognized at various levels, such as federal, state, and local. Generally, federal and state levels don’t have oversite to what owners can do with their properties, but they do provide protection of properties. On a local level, historical properties do have to follow guidelines set forth and reviewed by the County Historic Commission.

“Designating your sites not only protects them, but it increases property values and helps with the overall development of a community,” McCormick says. “There’s a lot of benefit, and it’s all voluntary for a community to go through this process.”

While Frederick County’s guidelines are in the early phase, Harford’s are going to be entering public review. This helps residents have a chance to see the guidelines in early phases and communicate with the Historic Commission as the guidelines are finalized and moved forward.

“That community buy-in is an important part of the process and one we take very seriously,” McCormick says. “We want people to understand that the purpose of the guidelines isn’t to create restrictions but to enrich and further develop the community.”

Adding value to a community

All historical guidelines follow standards set forth by the Secretary of the Interior. Another benefit of listing a historical property is   the historic tax credits that are available. These credits can be available at the federal, state, and local levels, and they often help communities improve older properties while also aiding in the reuse of properties that are perhaps long abandoned or in need of a refresh.

Frederick County already has interim guidelines in place, but Harford’s guidelines will be completely new, McCormick added. As the details are compiled, it’s important that the guidelines also anticipate modern Architecture and new facilities that may be added to the list as the guidelines age.

“This is an opportunity for residents and the governing bodies to have a say in their communities and how they want them to look and feel into the future,” McCormick says. “It values their rich stories and history, while keeping in mind the progress they’ll make for the future.”

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