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Submitted: 10/19/1999 Approved:
CITY OF ROCKVILLE
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Tuesday, September 14, 1999
Meeting No. 9-99
The City of Rockville Historic District Commission
Convened at 8:20 p.m. at Rockville City Hall.
PRESENT
Craig Moloney, Chairman
Bruce Noble Anita Neal-Powell (arrived 8:20 PM)
Staff: Jim Wasilak, Planner
Judith A. Christensen, Preservation Planner
Commissioner Noble moved, seconded by Commissioner Neal-Powell, to approve the HDC minutes of June 29, 1999 as submitted.
VOTE: 3-0
Commissioner Noble asked that the comments on page three, paragraph two, be attributed to the Fallsgrove Consultant, Anne Adams, for clarity.
Commissioner Noble moved, seconded by Commissioner Neal-Powell, to approve the HDC minutes of June July 20, 1999 as corrected.
VOTE: 3-0
II. EVALUATION OF THOMAS FARM FOR ARCHITECTURAL, HISTORIC, OR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (Continued from July 20, 1999)
Staff Liaison Christensen stated that the public was notified of the continuation of this evaluation through 2,200 first-class postcard notices to citizens and civic groups, and Internet notices on Rocknet and the City Web site. In addition, both the consultants report and the staff analysis were available on Rockville's Internet site. Staff said that the record closed on September 1, 1999 to allow staff to prepare an analysis of the consultant's information and public comment. Two items were submitted to the record before it closed: a letter dated August 29, 1999 from Eileen McGuckian, Executive Director of Peerless Rockville, concurring with the conclusion of the Fallsgrove consultant, and a letter from Fallsgrove Associates dated September 1, 1999 further defining the number and type of artifacts found through the archeology examination. Staff said that the HDC could vote to reopen the record if further testimony were offered tonight.
Robert Harris, representing Fallsgrove Associates, noted that the farm had been evaluated several times before annexation to Rockville and rejected for historic designation. He noted that the staff analysis concurred with these findings. He stated that Fallsgrove Associates accept the staff recommendation that the driveway, allee of trees from Darnestown Road, and the major landscaping around the main house should be preserved and will do so as possible.
Staff Liaison Christensen summarized the staff analysis, which found the buildings architecturally ineligible, the Thomas family was not significant to Rockville, and no historic events occurred at the site. She noted that a complex of buildings, which are otherwise undistinguished, remains eligible as a complete unit. In other words, a complete farmstead may be eligible as a good example demonstrating farm practices and agricultural industry. However, in this case, the farm buildings are spread out over the property and do not form a tight complex of buildings. The main house cannot be classified in any particular architectural style and best reflects the taste of the Thomas family. However, this association is valid only when the owner or builder is significant to the City. In this case, Mr. Thomas was originally from Frederick, the family's main residence was in Chevy Chase, and his occupation as a patent attorney was practiced in the District of Columbia. The Thomas were generous supporters of a number of metropolitan area and Montgomery County non-profits, but were not active in Rockville civic groups or government.
Therefore, staff concluded that the Thomas Farm did not meet the criteria of significance to the City of Rockville and should not be recommended as such.
Commissioner Noble asked Mr. Harris if the project required any Federal or State permits which would trigger a Section 106 review of historic eligibility. Mr. Harris said the project did not require state or federal permits. Mr. Nobel said he had viewed the buildings and sites without entering the buildings, and concurred with previous evaluations that did not find sufficient criteria to designate the farm as a historic property. The Commission went through the Rockville criteria for historic designation item by item in regards to the farm and found it did not meet the criteria for designation.
Chairman Moloney asked if any citizens wanted to speak to the record. Seeing no response, he called for a motion on the HDC recommendation of historic significance.
Commissioner Noble moved, seconded by Commissioner Neal-Powell, to recommend to the Mayor and Council that the Thomas Farm does not meet the criteria for historic designation and is not eligible for designation as a site significant to Rockville. He also moved to accept the offer of Robert Harris, acting on behalf of Fallsgrove Associates, to preserve and maintain the driveway allee of trees and the landscape features around the main house, with the following conditions:
Discussion: Chairman Moloney inquired as to who should be responsible for producing the measured drawings and where they would be maintained. Commissioner Noble replied that the drawings could be done to HABS/HERR standards by any person selected by the property owners. He suggested the drawings be deposited with City Staff or at Peerless Rockville. Staff asked the HDC to select the major buildings for the drawings as part of the motion.
Commissioner Noble amended his motion to designate the Main House, the Selby House and the Dairyman's house for measured drawings and the other structures for documentation visually. Commissioner Neal-Powell accepted and seconded the amendment to the motion.
VOTE: 3-0
Action: Determine if site meets criteria for further review. Site is not on Master Plan of inventoried historic resources but is over 50 years old.
Staff Liaison Christensen explained that the subject house is not listed as a Rockville Historic Resource or included within a designated historic district. As it is over 50 years old, an HDC or staff review per the Environmental Guidelines is triggered when the owner requests demolition. The owner, Montgomery County, has requested demolition as there is no current use for the property and it needs repairs. Staff said the preliminary investigation found a one and a half story unaltered front-gabled bungalow built about 1930. It is a typical modest structure of its time and not the work of a master, or architecturally significant in itself. The previous owners do not appear to have been contributors to the history or development of Rockville and no historic events are known to have occurred at the site. However, the house is located in a block of residential structures of similar age and character. Staff submitted photographs of the structure, streetscape character and adjacent structures.
Bruce Hartley, 210 Monroe Street, stated that he has owned a house and resided across the street from the subject property since 1979 and the prior owners, the Williams family, lived at the subject property for about 40 years. Mr. Harley said the area is presently a residential neighborhood with a mix of apartments, single-family-detached homes and townhouses and wonderful ethnic diversity. He related that two houses at the corner of Monroe and Fleet Street were demolished in the recent past to build a two-story office structure that has had a detrimental affect bringing noise pollution, loss of many trees, and poor trash management which brought rats to the area.
He asked that the house be retained and be repaired for residential use.
Kathleen Carpenter, 212 Monroe Street, said she has been a resident for 15 years and also wants to preserve the residential nature of the community. She noted that Montgomery County has put small offices in the houses that they own on the west side of the street. She noted that she does not want to leave Rockville and this unique area and the residential neighborhood should be preserved.
Commissioner Noble stated that he felt the house has the potential to qualify for historic designation under Rockville's criteria as a representative example of middle class housing of the period.
Chairman Moloney said that the HDC cannot determine use of structures but does assess them for historic integrity and context. He said that Montgomery County has presented no proposed use of the property and he was not in favor of arbitrary demolition that would damage the character and context of the neighborhood. Staff was directed to write a letter to the Facilities Department citing these concerns requesting that the house be restored to residential use.
Mr. Hartley asked what residents could do to preserve the character of the neighborhood. Staff said that historic district designation was one tool to preserve neighborhood character, but it would not preclude all changes and development. As the Mayor and Council must initiate a change in zoning to a historic district, it was suggested that the residents consult with the Mayor and Council.
Sue Whalen, representing Investment Properties, Inc., said Victoria Phase II was approved as part of the original plan in 1989 and the present application requests amendments to the approved plan. She noted that an original condition of the Use Permit required a pedestrian connection through the building but the Town Center Master Plan was later revised and this condition is no longer binding. The amendments request no pedestrian corridor, an individual entrance to the parking facility from Middle Lane rather than an entrance shared with Victoria I, and a 40% reduction in parking requirements due to the proximity of Metro and mass transit.
Barry Dunn, Project Architect, stated that he designed the original approved plan and the present project will retain the original plan footprint and use the same materials and approach as the Victoria I. The project includes a seven-story high rise office with 101,000 square feet, and three levels of parking which is part underground and part exposed along Middle Lane. The parking deck will have decorative grillwork and a screen wall with plantings on top. A parapet and ornamental pediment atop the high rise will hide the equipment penthouse. Materials will be precast concrete panels in a limestone color on the top floors and the two lower stories and brick on other stories. He noted that a three story rounded extension at the corner of North Washington and Montgomery was designed to provide an easier transition from the seven story high rise into the three story bank building and then into the bays of the low rise Victorian I on the east side. This feature has a domed roof derived from the Post Office on the opposite corner. He noted that although the extension will block the view of approximately half of the bank façade on the North Washington Street side, the round shape and separation from the bank façade will allow a view of the entire bank façade from the intersection.
Chairman Moloney stated that the HDC's concern was impact on this historic site, and in this situation, it is primarily a visual impact. He said the seven story high rise was frighteningly large and overpowering by contrast to the three-story limestone facade art deco bank. He noted that parking decks occupy the core of the site and the Middle Lane elevation was not being designed as a streetscape but as a back door with the parking decks. He noted that the Victoria I has been criticized for a lack of respect shown for Middle Lane and the corner of Middle Lane and N. Washington Street. He noted that the Victoria II design follows this precedent on Middle Lane in particular. He stated that the Middle Lane streetscape could be pedestrian friendly and provide a viable commercial area, as was proven by Federal Realty on the opposite side of Middle Lane.
As for the bank building itself, Chairman Moloney noted that the rear façade of the bank was never intended to be a focal point, but the visual access to the west façade of the bank is a real concern. He concurred that the curved extension and the green space and plantings at the corner of North Washington and Montgomery provide a needed transition, but recommended that the extension be pulled back 10 to 12 feet to allow more visual access to the bank façade. He said that if the plan for the Victoria II were to come before the HDC today, the HDC would not approve it as it presents too much adverse impact on the bank building and Courthouse Square.
Commissioner Noble said that he personally likes the building and admires the Victoria, but concurred that the major concern is the intrusion of the three-story extension into the visual access to the west façade of the bank. He noted that downtown Rockville was bordering on New York's Manhattan downtown where huge highrises engulf small historic buildings. He also favored pulling the extension back or eliminating it. He inquired if the plans had been submitted and commented upon by the bank owners. Ms. Whalen said the bank had seen the plans and would be submitting a letter of approval in the near future.
The HDC discussed the pedestrian flow and design elements of the plan with Mr. Dunn in an effort to find a compromise that would reduce the impact but not be detrimental to the building design. Along with moving the extension back 10 to 12 feet, lowering the height of the extension, and changing the façade materials to all limestone color were suggested. Mr. Dunn said the major contributions of the round extension were both as a focal point and a transition element and he hesitated to change the design. He said the impact of the high rise would be more severe if the transition extension was omitted, and reducing it in size would make it a pimple rather than a feature. He said he would consider the HDC's change of façade materials to precast articulated panels on the top level of the extension.
Commissioner Neal-Powell clarified the pedestrian access and echoed the concerns expressed by Commissioners Moloney and Noble. After some discussion, the HDC directed staff to report their concerns and comments to the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Neal-Powell said the Lincoln Park Historical Society continues its "Tracks of African Americans in Montgomery County" tours through November.
Mr. Hartranft said the Strategic Planning process was proceeding with a plan anticipated to start the Millennium. Peerless will participate in the Spirit of Rockville Festival on Sunday September 26 and provide a time line and ethnic information. Peerless is also a co-sponsor of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference that happens the same weekend. In October, Peerless is organizing a Community Service Day on October 23 with a clean up project at Higgins Cemetery. Peerless is also working on a historic-theme bicycle tour with the City Parks and Recreation Department and invited an HDC representative to attend the meeting on September 15. Chairman Moloney said he would try to attend.
Chairman Moloney inquired about progress on removing the power lines in front of Jerusalem United Methodist Church. Staff said Council Member Wright was pursuing this with the Public Works Department and staff had submitted a Memo to the Mayor and Council on behalf of the HDC stating that they are in favor of the project.
Commissioner Neal-Powell said the Montgomery County Public School system (MCPS) is considering tearing down Carver High School and Jr. College to expand and rebuild the administration offices. Staff is to contact the facilities division and invite them for a courtesy review focused on how to accomplish their needs while preserving the façade and spirit of the historic site. Ms. Neal-Powell said that the plaque ceremony last year has helped to raise sensitivity on the accomplishment and meaning of the building to Montgomery County.
Staff reported that the facilities division of the Montgomery County Public Schools had asked the HDC to discuss in a general manner what the HDC would consider a priority to save if Richard Montgomery High School was rebuilt or moved to another location on the site. The old structure would be demolished. Richard Montgomery High School is a listed historic resource in the City of Rockville Historic Inventory and the original site of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Staff submitted photographs of the present structure that showed the remaining views of the original 1941 building, which is now almost completely engulfed by additions. A view of the original façade was also provided. Ms. Christensen said she was one of the two authors of the 1987 inventory form. At the time the survey was done, it was her belief that the focus and significance was the history of the school system in Rockville and Montgomery County rather than the original structure, which was already hidden from view. She noted that where the original structure was visible, the window openings had been infilled and smaller windows have been installed. The other author was consulted and had the same recollection, but noted that the athletic field and track were sited on the trotting racetrack and last remaining grounds of the original Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds. It was recommended that the HDC and MCPS facilities division concentrate on ways to present the history of the Rockville-Richard Montgomery High School and the fairgrounds to the public.
The City of Rockville Historic District Commission meeting of September 14, 1999 was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Christensen
HDC Staff Liaison