Thurmont
to seek national historic recognition
BY JAMES RADA JR.
Thurmont News Editor
THURMONT,
Md. – Thurmont is looking to capitalize on its past to
help preserve its future.
The town
has received a state grant to hire a consultant who will help
town representatives write an application for the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
Main
Street Manager Vickie Grinder said that achieving recognition
from the National Trust would open up additional opportunities
to help revitalize Thurmont.
“It’s
a very prestigious designation and it makes us eligible for
some federal programs,” Grinder said. “That’s
how Frederick received a lot of the money for its Main Street
Program.”
The National
Trust is a private, non-profit organization that works to
save historic places and revitalize communities. It assists
community-based development corporations and preservation
organization to rebuild neighborhoods with loan and grant
programs. Businesses can also benefit through the National
Trust’s National Main Street Program.
“What
it means is that we’re eligible for many more grants,
low-interest loans, training for property owners to help make
houses and businesses more attractive,” said Town Commissioner
Bill Blakeslee.
Chris
Ryre has helped the town on behalf of the state to receive
some of its designations. He pointed out that any building
over 50 years old in the district would be eligible to receive
tax credits for improvements of around 20 percent. Only a
couple of Maryland Main Street communities don’t have
the National Register District designation from the National
Trust.
Grinder
said she hopes the application is ready by next August, but
she also cautions that, on average, it takes two submissions
to the National Trust to receive the recognition.
“This
misconception people have is that businesses will be regulated
in their store design,” Ryre said. “While that
can happen, it would only apply to businesses that choose
to take the tax credits. The program is voluntary.”
A second
piece of the $16,625 grant also allows the town to hire a
consultant to conduct a market study.
“Market
studies scare people when they hear that because they think
it means growth,” Grinder said. “It gives us information
for grants and information we can use to attract businesses.
It’s something good for Thurmont to use. It’s
like a third eye.”
She expects
that the same company that helped Thurmont win its Main Street
designation will be the one to conduct the market study, which
could be completed next spring.
