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A Guide to Understanding Historic Designations & The Organizations That Support Them

© Greenwich Historical Society, 2010 D ESIGNATIONS

There is a variety of designations for historic resources within the field of historic preservation. Most designations provide protection for the historic resource but in varying degrees. The following list defines those designations.

STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT/PROPERTY The State Register is an official listing of These districts and properties are locally properties and sites important to the historical designated and enjoy a high degree of development of . The criteria for protection. Once designated, no alterations inclusion are the same as for the National can be made to the exterior without first Register of Historic Places. All properties applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness nominated to the National Register must first be from the Historic District Commission. There are placed on the State Register. There is no three Local Historic Districts in Greenwich, specific protection afforded properties listed on Strickland Road and Mill Pond Court district in the State Register. In Greenwich there are nine Cos Cob, the Round Hill Road/John Street extant properties on the State Register that are district, and the Stanwich district, and two local not listed on the National Register. historic properties, 29 Taconic Road and 640 www.cultureandtourism.org/history/ Round Hill Road. www.greenwichct.org NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Listing on the National Register draws attention HISTORIC ZONES to the historical significance of the building, Planning and Zoning may grant Historic Overlay, object, district or road. While being on the list either Historic Residential/Office Zone (HRO) or affords protection against certain federal Historic Overlay Zone (HO), or Façade interference, it does not by itself prohibit Easement status to properties in Greenwich. The alterations or demolitions. There are 21 buildings, designations allow for zoning bonuses in structures or roads and seven districts, each exchange for a property owner’s agreement to containing many contributing structures, on the preserve and protect a significant historic or National Register in Greenwich. architectural asset. After designation, any www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ application for alteration to the historic structure is referred to the Historic District Commission for NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK (NHL) a Certificate of Appropriateness. National Historic Landmark listing recognizes the www.greenwichct.org country’s most important historic resources. The designation carries with a very high degree of GREENWICH LANDMARK REGISTRY protection. The only NHL in Greenwich is the Established by The Greenwich Historical Society, Bush-Holley House (c. 1730) in Cos Cob, site of this program recognizes historically or Connecticut’s first art colony. One of the town’s architecturally significant buildings in oldest buildings, Bush-Holley House was Greenwich. Owners of eligible homes are purchased by The Greenwich Historical Society invited to enroll in the program for a fee. The and opened to the public as a museum a year Historical Society conducts deed research, later in 1958. www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/ photographs the house and presents owners with a plaque. There are no restrictions or protections placed on the buildings in the program. As of 2010 there are close to 300 buildings documented. www.hstg.org O RGANIZATIONS

There are several commissions and organizations involved in, and committed to, the process of protecting historic resources in the Town of Greenwich. They are listed below.

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION (P&Z) THE GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY (GHS) Diane Fox – Town Planner Debra Mecky – Executive Director 203-622-7894 203-869-6899 P&Z is responsible for all zoning decisions in Based at the Bush-Holley Historic Site in Cos Greenwich and engages in planning for future Cob, GHS is an independent not for profit development of the town. The commission organization, run by a professional staff and consists of five volunteer members and three governed by a board of trustees. Its mission is to volunteer alternates who are nominated by the collect and preserve the cultural heritage and Selectmen and appointed by the RTM. The staff, ongoing history of Greenwich and provide a led by Town Planner Diane Fox, handles zoning center for its enjoyment and study. As well as applications and develops regulations. Chapter being a resource for those seeking information Two of the 2009 Plan of Conservation and about historic preservation, GHS sponsors the Development encourages historic preservation. Greenwich Landmark Registry.

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION (HDC) THE CONNECTICUT TRUST FOR HISTORIC FiFi Sheridan – Chairman PRESERVATION 203-622-5144 Helen Higgins – Executive Director The HDC meets monthly and is comprised of five 203-562-6312 volunteer commissioners and five volunteer The Connecticut Trust is a non-profit alternates who are nominated by the organization based in Hamden. Their Selectmen and appointed by the RTM. The mission is to preserve the character and HDC’s primary responsibility is to rule on all ensure the vitality of Connecticut’s Certificate of Appropriateness applications for historically significant places. The Trust’s changes to structures in the Local Historic best tools are its traveling technical assistance Districts and Properties. In addition they serve as program (email: [email protected]) and an advisory panel to P&Z when questions website (www.cttrust.org). The site, which is a affecting historic buildings arise, particularly clearinghouse of useful information, includes a when those sites are in National Register section for realtors, “Restoration Services Districts. Often HDC review is required as a part Directory” of contractors, architects, consultants of an application to P&Z. In 2009 the HDC and craftsmen, FAQs and much more. facilitated the designation of the Town of Greenwich as a Certified Local Government. Greenwich Preservation Trust (GPT) Jo Conboy, Chairman 203 661-6343 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) Cynthia Tyminski – P&Z Planner The GPT was incorporated in November 2009 203-622-7894 with a mission to preserve the rich historical and The ARC is an all volunteer, 12-member standing cultural resources found in the town. One of committee appointed by the Planning and their projects is the preservation of the Thomas Zoning Commission to advise them on certain Lyon House, c. 1695, in Byram. applications. The ARC meets monthly to evaluate all applications for commercial OTHER ORGANIZATIONS projects and any residential projects of more Other organizations in town are also involved than two units. They evaluate and comment on with historic preservation, among which are the the proposed project’s scale, streetscape and Greenwich Point Conservancy, and the Israel architectural integrity. They also review signage, Putnam House Association. awnings, colors and lighting as well as building materials and landscapes. PROPERTIES

STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS & PROPERTIES* John Addington House Round Hill Road/John Street Historic District Benedict Building at Greenwich Hospital  Strickland Road Historic District Cos Cob Firehouse Stanwich Historic District Ferris Farm Cemetery Montgomery Pinetum Conservatory 29 Taconic Road (Jeremiah Mead House) O’Neill Outdoor Theater 640 Round Hill Road (Charles Green House) Shell Island Tower Tomac Burying Ground HISTORIC OVERLAY ZONES 20 Arcadia Road – C NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 50 East Putnam Avenue – NP Private Buildings 271 East Putnam Avenue – R Cos Cob Power Plant  391 East Putnam Avenue – O/R Samuel Ferris House 10-16 Finney Knoll - R Hawthorne Mill & Depot Building 154-156 Greenwich Avenue (rear) – C 151 Hamilton Avenue - R Selleck Gristmill 17 Hemlock Drive - R Wilcox House 18 Lafayette Place - NP Rosemary Hall 731 Lake Avenue – R YMCA of Greenwich 96 Maple Avenue – R / O Municipal Buildings 136 Maple Avenue – R Byram School 85 Mason Street - C Glenville School (Western Greenwich Civic 124-130 Mason Street – O / R Center) 230 Mason Street - R Lighthouse 228-230 Mill Street - C / R Greenwich Main Post Office 245 Mill Street – O Old Town Hall 9 Normandy Lane – R Churches 1 Old Church Road – R Methodist Episcopal Church 350 Pemberwick Road - C / O Houses Sherwood Avenue – R Thomas Lyon House 311 Sound Beach Avenue – R Museums 301 Valley Road - O Bush-Holley House Weaver Street at Barn Hill Road– R 211 West Putnam Avenue – R Train Stations Cos Cob Railroad Station HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL / OFFICE ZONE (HRO) Sound Beach Railroad Station 51 Church Street Bridges 183 East Putnam Avenue (The Columns) – O Mianus River Railroad Bridge 523 East Putnam Avenue – O Riverside Avenue Bridge (over railroad tracks) 30 Milbank Avenue - O Roads 46 Milbank Avenue – R Merritt Parkway 211 River Road Extension – R Districts 5 Salem Street – NP Fourth Ward Historic District Glenville Historic District FAÇADE EASEMENT Greenwich Avenue Historic District 63 Church Street Greenwich Municipal Center 30 Field Point Road Putnam Hill Historic District 32 Field Point Road Round Hill Historic District 180 Lake Avenue Strickland Road Historic District 56 Mason Street 93 Mason Street

* Local historic districts and properties are also listed on the State Register of Historic Places.

C = Commercial NP = Not for Profit O = Office R = Residential  = Demolished