Friday, April 17, 2015
Rockville Historic District Commission still on for meeting with Twinbrook Citizens Association
In a previous discussion, it was said to be an opportunity for residents to learn about their options for historic preservation or designation for their homes or neighborhood. The meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, April 28, at the Twinbrook Community Recreation Center at 12920 Twinbrook Parkway.
The commission also declined to endorse a proposal to allow construction of a new home with an attached garage at 102 South Van Buren Street last night. Commissioner Rob Achtmeyer expressed concern that approval would set a precedent for how infill development is handled within historic districts. Reynolds agreed, saying it would start the city down a "slippery slope." Achtmeyer said a house with a front-facing attached garage was not appropriate in the historic district the site is located within.
This was a courtesy review, and no formal vote was taken.
Friday, February 20, 2015
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION DECLINES TO RECOMMEND HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR 5 CHOKE CHERRY ROAD
The motion was made by Commissioner Anita Neal Powell, and seconded by Commissioner Craig Moloney.
Commissioner Jessica Reynolds urged the city to begin considering which of Sullivan's buildings in Rockville should receive such designation, to be preserved from demolition in the future. Moloney said he concurred.
The vote removes one of the last hurdles for developer JBG's planned Upper Rock retail project to proceed.
Friday, December 19, 2014
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON 5 CHOKE CHERRY ROAD IN ROCKVILLE
Thursday, February 20, 2014
PEERLESS ROCKVILLE SERIES TO HIGHLIGHT ROCKCREST, HUNGERFORD AND COLLEGE GARDENS
On March 29, Rockville Historic District Commissioner Jessica Reynolds will discuss the Rockcrest neighborhood at the Twinbrook Recreation Center, beginning at 10:00 AM.
Hungerford will be the subject on April 12, as historian Teresa Lachin makes a presentation at the Elwood Smith Community Center, also at 10:00 AM.
Finally, Nancy Pickard of Peerless Rockville will host an examination of architecture in College Gardens on April 26 at the Rockville Senior Center, again at 10:00 AM.
Peerless Rockville is a non-profit concerned with historic preservation and preserving Rockville's heritage.
Friday, November 1, 2013
ROCKVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CRITICIZES PINK BANK DECISION (PHOTO)
Jessica Reynolds, a member of the Rockville Historic District Commission, is speaking out on the recent 3-2 decision by the Mayor and Council to allow demolition of a historic bank building at 255 N. Washington Street.
In a letter published in this week's Gazette, Reynolds accused city leaders of preserving only those buildings with "architectural styles that meet their own tastes." The decision to not allow a historic designation process for the "Pink Bank" "has implications for how the public's voice will be heard in Rockville in the future," she wrote.
The building's distinctive design, Reynolds argued, not only serves as an important reminder of the city's blunder of demolishing its original, historic town center during the 60s, but also reinforces a sense of place in a time of what she has previously called "cookie cutter" buildings.
Reynolds predicted that the modern town center itself will be replaced again in only 30 years.
The HDC had recommended the city allow a historic designation process to begin for the structure. Supporters of demolition argued that historic designation had already been dismissed previously (however, according to preservationists, the building only recently has qualified by age for designation), and pointed to the developer's years of planning - and work with residents in the adjacent West End - as arguments for allowing the new development to proceed. Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio added that she strongly supported property rights by landowners in the city, and therefore was voting on principle to allow demolition.