ROCKLAND — There is so much history in Rockland architecture, according to Historical Society curator Ann Morris, that she wants to see it captured, bottled and appreciated. She spoke in support of a proposed ordinance Oct. 10 at a regularly scheduled Rockland City Council meeting.

Morris is leading the effort to preserve several local landmarks, districts, and neighborhoods, some of which are already listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. She doesn’t want to see another building of historic significance demolished in the same way as the Post Office/Custom’s House was torn down in 1970. At that time, the city no longer needed a large customs house, and various Main Street business owners wanted a parking lot.

In the years that followed, many people have come to regret the landmark’s loss, leading to the current effort to preserve other historical entities.

Councilor Adam Ackor sponsored Ordinance Amendment No. 30, Historic Preservation, that was introduced in September, and revisited Oct. 10. The Rockland City Council unanimously approved amendments to that ordinance in first reading. However, due to the significance of the amendments, Mayor Valli Geiger has sent it back to be considered again in First Reading in November.  Read the ordinance on page 34, as it was written prior to September edits.

The preservation ordinance is to encourage owners to recognize the history of their property, and support those who follow historic guidelines. In Rockland, property owners will have the final say as to the appearance of their exteriors.

“The basic purpose of this ordinance is to educate all of us to appreciate the artistry of historic architecture,” Morris said a day after Council members voted to keep the ordinance in motion, despite a previous request to have it tabled.

Owners will be required, however, to at least consider to recommendations, as stated in section 20-405 Action of the Historic Preservation Commission. If an owner intends to make major, non-reversible changes to the exterior, they must submit an application to the Code Enforcement Office. That application will be reviewed, then sent to the Commission.

At their next regularly scheduled meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission will review the work to be done and recommend ways to preserve important defining characteristics of the building's architectural style and maintain a list of possible contractors and suppliers for the work,

Within two weeks of the meeting, the Commission shall provide a written copy of the Recommendations to the property owner and to the Code Enforcement Office. The property owner shall not be required to follow the recommendations of the Commission but shall sign and date the written copy of the recommendations to indicate their receipt. A building permit shall not be issued without evidence of review by the Historic Preservation Commission.

Prior to anyone’s action, however, the City will need to form a seven-member commission, create the guideline manual (using Castine and Bangor ordinances as models), and consider landmarks for inclusion.

At that point, owners within those districts, which are yet to be determined, will receive a letter one month prior to any action. Some owners may then opt in, or out.

“An individual property owner can say, ‘I don’t want to be a local landmark,’” she said. “Because the important part of a district is the atmosphere, a historic district can go ahead unless 50 percent of the property owners say no.”

Morris believes that those who opt in, will recoup incentives beyond the three-year tax reimbursement for the additional property tax on the increased value.

Historic houses compel tourists to drive by, according to Morris.  

“When [owners] go to sell their house, they’ll find that people consider their house a treasure,” she said.

And when it’s considered a treasure, it not only draws people to the area, it also increases the property value.

At present, no structures or districts are in consideration. The preservation commission will begin that process, once it is formed.

The October amendment deleted from the ordinance any references to the 12 structures and districts in Rockland that some believe are worthy of consideration:

Rockland Residential Historic District, encompassing Union and Masonic streets, Broadway, and Talbot Avenue;

Rockland Main Street Historic District with 16 significant buildings along Main Street between Museum and Limerock streets;

Rockland Main Street Historic District Boundary Increase with 11 significant buildings between Limerock, Lindsey, and Summer streets;

Farnsworth House;

Rankin Block;

Railroad Station;

Breakwater;

Breakwater Lighthouse;

General Davis Tillson House;

Railroad Turntable and Engine House;

Strand Theater;

and the Timothy Williams House.

City Council members will again revisit the Historic Preservation ordinance during the November 14 City Council meeting.

See a previous article

Rockland walking tours dig up arcane facts about a storied small city

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com