Historic Preservation Commission eyes Front Street
Commissioners want to expand historic district
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Greenport's Historic Preservation Commission, long determined to preserve the heritage of the village, is now seeking to expand the historic district over which it has authority. If commissioners get their way, Front Street, the center of the downtown business district, would join the various residential streets and parts of Main Street in comprising the historic district.
That doesn't mean that existing commercial establishments would have to immediately pour money into restoring their structures to comply with HPC guidelines, chairman Rob Brown said. But it would mean that future construction and renovations in the downtown area would be subject to HPC review.
Commissioners want to sweeten the pot for commercial owners and developers by seeking out and providing information to merchants and their landlords about possible sources of grant money to offset the cost of future renovations.
Mr. Brown has discussed the idea with Mayor David Nyce, a former HPC member, and some other members of the Village Board and he said Monday night he thinks a majority favor the proposal. It would likely have to be discussed at a public hearing, he said.
Many people are surprised to learn that Front Street isn't in the historic district, Commissioner Eric Urban said.
The advantage of bringing the commercial downtown area into the historic district is that it could qualify for tax benefits and for grants provided by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street project, Mr. Brown said.
The four-point Main Street approach aims to revitalize older business districts in the country, concentrating on design, economic restructuring, promotion and organization.
"The Main Street approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership and a sense of community," according to the National Trust's Web site.
In line with what the commissioners are proposing, the Main Street approach is "incremental" and "not designed to produce immediate change," the Web site says.
The commission would like to take advantage of the Greenport Web site currently under construction to research and provide links to resources useful for both residential and commercial owners. It would provide access to information about funding sources and design assistance.
"In terms of resistance to historic preservation, it's always about money," Commissioner Diana Van Buren said. The information provided could help those who want to comply without having to "break the bank," she said.
"We want them to join us, not run away from us," Mr. Urban said, referring to commercial owners.
Mr. Brown promised to research the village code to determine how to structure a proposal for expanding the historic district. Commissioners will look at efforts made by other communities to include their downtown areas within their historic districts.
Within the past few years, the Planning Board has referred some major projects on Front Street to the HPC for review. But without that referral, the commissioners would have had no input on such major projects as the Harborfront Inn or the pending Greenport Gateway project.
jlane@timesreview.com
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