2015 3 Funding for Preservation
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Connecticut Preservation News May/June 2015 Volume XXXVIII, No. 3 Harlan Griswold Award 2015 The Hartford Courant Remarks by Helen Higgins, Executive Director of the Connecticut Trust. e are happy to present the Harlan H. Griswold Award this W evening to The Hartford Courant, which has furthered the goals of historic preservation in Connecticut by its reporting, opinion pieces, and editorials promoting preservation as central to our state’s economic development and self-identity. Harlan H. Griswold was an incorporator of the Connecticut Trust and longtime chair of the Connecticut Historical Commission. After his death, those two organizations estab- lished the Harlan H. Griswold Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to historic preservation over a life- time of service to the cause. continued on page 8 _______________________________________ In This Issue... _______________________________________ Awards of Merit 2 _______________________________________ Funding for Preservation 4 Carolyn Lumsden, Tom Condon, and Rick Daniels, of the Hartford Courant, receive the Harlan Griswold Award. Flanking them are State Historic Preservation Officer Daniel Forrest _______________________________________ Around the State 10 and Helen Higgins, of the Connecticut Trust. Historic Properties Exchange 14 The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit organization. ISSN 1084-189X Connecticut Preservation Awards 2015 Anthony Roy Awards of Merit istoric Preservation truly is many vation provisions. With a grant from the H different things. The projects Connecticut Trust, the association drafted chosen for this year’s Awards of Merit design guidelines and zoning regulations demonstrate the breadth and depth of with the Town Planner. The zone was preservation activity in Connecticut. This approved in November and took effect on year, most of the projects selected weren’t February 1. The successful establishment about the traditional preservation idea of of the Stony Creek village district shows carefully restoring a single building. While how a community organization and a town that’s still important, the Trust wanted to government can work together to plan for focus on broader community-building or future development that enhances historic economic revitalization efforts involving character. historic places. The awards celebrate last- minute rescues and re-use of endangered RH Greenwich: renovation of the building types. They demonstrate the value Greenwich Post Office of historic buildings for affordable housing Greenwich Retail, LLC; Restoration and innovative educational approaches. Hardware; Bracken, Gillam & Kroeger They show us grassroots efforts, and Architects; Granoff Architects; Beyer Blinder The Forlorn Soldier, Hartford restoration work that preserves not only Belle Architects & Planners. Nominated by objects but also traditional craft skills. Peter Malkin. The Forlorn Soldier, Hartford They highlight the importance and joys of The Greenwich Post Office, completed Matthew Warshauer; Anthony Roy; Peter G. historic places in our lives, be they barns or in 1917, features monumental Corinthian Kelly family; Francis Miller. Nominated by post offices or entire communities. These columns in a sweeping façade and is listed Leah Glaser. places make our lives richer, and the Trust on the National Register of Historic Places. For years this brownstone statue stood is honored to recognize some of the people When the U.S. Postal Service decided crumbling and forgotten on Airport who have made that possible. to sell the building, Greenwich Retail, Road, until Matthew Warshauer, a history LLC, led by Peter and Anthony Malkin, professor at Central Connecticut State Branford: Stony Creek Village District purchased it. Working within the require- University and co-chair of the Connecticut Stony Creek Association; Town of Branford; ments of a preservation covenant, they Civil War Commemoration Commission, Robert Orr & Associates. Nominated by Ted joined forces with Restoration Hardware initiated a project to research and preserve Ells and Betsy Wieland. to transform the building into a showcase the statue. Anthony Roy, a CCSU master’s Thanks to its eclectic history of fishing, for RH’s designs. The revitalization of student, researched its history; conservator quarrying, and summer vacationing, the Greenwich Post Office offers a model Francis Miller halted the deterioration Stony Creek is a desirable place to live. solution to a growing national preservation of the stone. The Peter Kelly family, So, when several houses in the National concern, as the Postal Service decom- which owned the statue, donated it to the Register-district village were razed for missions and sells historic buildings in State, and it has been moved to the State bigger replacements, the Stony Creek significant downtown locations throughout Capitol. It was nearly too late: the statue Association recommended creating a village the country. couldn’t have survived much longer out district, a zoning tool with historic preser- continued on page 16 Robert Orr & Associates Mark Hug/RH Stony Creek Restoration Hardware, in the former Greenwich Post Office 2 CONNECTICUT PRESERVATION NEWS, May/June 2015 At the Trust From the Board Chairman big change is coming to the gap financing for preservation projects and Connecticut Humanities Council, Helen A Connecticut Trust. Helen Higgins, acquire options on threatened buildings. A has become a visible and effective presence the Trust’s Executive Director, has common thread in all this work has been at the State Capitol. Working with legisla- announced her retirement, effective July planning ahead for preservation, rather than tors and advocates from a wide range of 1. Since Helen took the job, in 1997, the waiting to fight threats when they arise. disciplines, she helped secure passage of new Trust has greatly expanded its reach and its Under Helen’s leadership, the Trust state historic rehabilitation tax credits, the reputation as an effective and influential survey and documentation projects to iden- Community Investment Act, authorization voice for Connecticut’s historic buildings, tify and recognize historic resources such as for local historic preservation ordinances, landscapes, and communities. barns, industrial sites, and sites associated and line-item funding for the Trust, while Under Helen’s leadership the Trust has with 20th-century artists and writers. A also serving as an advocate for the State reached out to support and assist local growing online presence has brought this Historic Preservation Office through a preservation efforts, primarily through information to the public through three series of mergers and threatened budget the Circuit Rider program, which puts generations of Trust websites, plus special cuts. At this very moment, when she might the Trust on the streets in communities websites devoted to town greens and barns, be winding down her work, Helen is still across the state. Supplementing the Circuit and local historic districts. spending much of her time in Hartford, Riders’ work the Trust has built a wide- Much of this growth has been possible fighting off yet another proposal to cut state ranging grants program, offering technical because of the relationships Helen has built funding for historic preservation (see page 5). assistance grants, Vibrant Communities and maintained with preservationists and Although Helen came to the Trust with Initiative grants, barn grants, and mainte- others who share many of the Trust’s goals. little direct background in preservation, her nance and repair grants. One of the latest Under the guidance of her friend Bruce commitment to the cause quickly developed ventures is a new revolving fund to provide Fraser, the late Executive Director of the into unfailing professionalism. The staff has grown and flourished under her collegial working style, and her insight and good humor win friends for the Trust wherever The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit statewide membership organization established by a she goes. special act of the State Legislature in 1975. Working with local preservation groups and individuals as well as statewide organizations, it encourages, advocates and facilitates historic preservation throughout Connecticut. The search for a new Executive Director is underway, led by Board member Jeffry Board of Trustees Advisory Council Connecticut Preservation News is Martha Alexander, New Haven published bimonthly by the Connecticut Officers Trust for Historic Preservation, 940 Muthersbaugh. It seems an impossible task. Charles Janson, Chairman, Darien J. Barclay Collins, Sharon Whitney Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut We will miss Helen very much, but thanks Garry S. Leonard, Vice-Chairman, Madison William R. Crowe, Canton 06517. Publication is made possible by support of the members of the Connecticut Edith Pestana, Secretary, Hartford Jared Edwards, FAIA, West Hartford Trust for Historic Preservation and by to her hard work the Connecticut Trust Edward W. Munster, Treasurer, Haddam Inger Elliott, Stonington funds provided through the Community Theodore F. Ells, Branford Investment Act in the State of Connecticut. is well prepared to face the next phase of Robert Svensk, Assistant Treasurer, The contents and opinions stated herein Southport Gerald Farrell, Jr., Wallingford do not necessarily reflect the views and its history. I hope you all will join me in Walter Fiederowicz, Litchfield policies of the State of