Prince George's proposes new historic designation list

For the first time in almost two decades, Prince George's County is taking a comprehensive look at preserving its rich cultural heritage, looking to designate more than 130 properties as historic and offering dozens of recommendations for protecting such sites.

Included on the list is John Keiffer's 1830 Vermont farmhouse in Upper Marlboro, accented with handmade doors and double staircases.

"We're just tickled," said Keiffer, who has been trying to get his house designated a historic site for almost 10 years. "We've always felt like our house is special in age and architecture."

Keiffer, a former Upper Marlboro town commissioner, said he hopes the designation will lead to the revitalization of downtown Upper Marlboro. Spurring economic development while not harming historic properties is one of the goals in a Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission report.

The report's recommendations range from ensuring that zoning and subdivision regulations promote historic preservation to offering financial assistance with rehabilitation.

The District Council directed the commission to do the study in November 2008. The council was particularly interested in addressing several issues, including endangered burial grounds, inappropriate rehabilitation and building code requirements.

The District Council and the Planning Board held a joint hearing on the plan last month. Planning staff said they hope to have the plan approved by early May.

Gail Rothrock, planning supervisor and project facilitator, said the plan is a guide for the next five to 10 years. This is the first time in almost 20 years, she said, that the county has published historical information about 57 communities.

"We hope they will read the information and consider how historic they are and consider what type of protection they want," Rothrock said.

Laurence Winston Sr., president of the Glenarden Historical Society and a member of the African American Heritage Preservation Group, said he supports the county's effort but does not want the discussion to be one-sided.

He said he is working with the planning staff to make sure sites with African American significance are a part of the county's preservation efforts.

For too many years, the county has ignored African Americans' role in county history, Winston said.