African American sites in Prince George's County designated historic resources

Several African American sites in Prince George's County were designated historic Tuesday under a plan approved by the County Council that takes a comprehensive look at preserving the county's rich cultural heritage.

The properties were designated historic resources, which means they are a step closer to receiving a designation that protects them from development.

"The goal of historic resources is to preserve them, not demolish them," said Howard Berger, planner-coordinator of the historic preservation section for the county Planning Board.

Even though the African American sites make up just a fraction of the more than 130 properties that were designated historic resources under the plan, preservationists and civil rights activists who have been working on the effort were encouraged.

"I am so proud of the big step we took in saving African American and Native American history," said David Turner, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission. "That's genuine reform, and that's appropriate in our county."

Turner said recognizing the rich African American history in Prince George's could ultimately help tourism in the county.

"People will come to see our sites because we saved ours while others destroyed them and built over them," he said.

The Prince George's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the African American Heritage Preservation Group have been working over the past couple of years to ensure that African American sites are part of the county's preservation efforts.

One of the sites that was included in the plan is the Good Luck School for Colored in Glenn Dale, a one-room schoolhouse built about 1899.

The resolution approved Tuesday is the final product of a study the District Council, which is what the County Council is called when it hears zoning cases, directed the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to do in November 2008. In addition to the designations, the report recommends ensuring that zoning and subdivision regulations promote historic preservation and offering financial assistance with rehabilitation.