Augusta residents are invited to attend a public forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to learn more about a proposed historic district ordinance.
Mayor David Rollins organized a board of panelists to talk about the proposal, which would designate several city streets on the west side as a new historic district. At a city council meeting earlier this month, a few residents spoke against the proposal, saying they fear it would drive up costs for simple repairs and add to the time it takes to get the work done because some repairs would be subject to review by a new city board.
In response, the council delayed any votes on the ordinance and instead organized a panel discussion that will be moderated by Daniel Wathen, retired chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The panel includes:
• Deb Andrews, who has managed Portland’s historic preservation program since 1992.
• Chris Closs of Maine Preservation, who has been a field service adviser since the program began in 2009. Closs has been a consultant on historic tax credits for 30 years and managed 62 certified rehabilitations for a total of $300 million in investments.
• Megan Hopkin, historic coordinator for the Maine Department of Transportation. Hopkins is the former chairwoman of the Augusta Historic Preservation Commission.
The proposed Augusta ordinance has different review requirement standards for properties within the district based on whether they have been deemed contributing or noncontributing buildings in the district. Those determinations were made previously by historic architecture experts who reviewed buildings within the district and determined which category they fit into. In general, buildings at least 50 years old that have not had their original exterior character altered are deemed contributing properties and renovation projects on them would be subject to more stringent review.
The ordinance would create a new locally designated historic district that encompasses two existing designated National Historic Districts surrounding Winthrop and Crosby streets. It would include the downtown Water Street area north to just beyond Bond Street, extend as far south as a small portion of Western Avenue at Memorial Circle, and include homes and other buildings along parts of State, Green, Bridge, Chapel, Melville, South Chestnut, North Chestnut, Spring, Winter and Summer streets.
The existing National Historic Districts included within the proposed local district don’t require building renovations to comply with any standards. The proposed local ordinance, however, would require some exterior work visible from public areas to be reviewed and approved before taking place.
The Tuesday meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Buker Community Center Gymnasium, 22 Armory St.
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