In the summer of 2013, Montgomery County enacted a bill Tax credits are a powerful incentive for property owners to invest in their historic properties. Investment in historic resources is beneficial for local economies.  Historic preservation creates jobs, circulates money in the local economy, and expands the county's tax base.  We hope that more people will take advantage of the 25 percent credit by investing in their historic properties, thereby strengthening Montgomery County's economy.

Montgomery Preservation Inc., the county's non-profit historic preservation organization, is presenting its annual awards at a ceremony on March 28.  Clare Kelly, who has served on the historic preservation staff for more than two decades, is to receive the Montgomery Prize, MPI's highest honor.  MPI is also recognizing the historic preservation section's Montgomery Modern initiative with an award for special achievement in education/media. 

Under County law, the Montgomery County Council has the authority to designate historic buildings and districts by adding them to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. Designated properties are protected by the County's historic preservation ordinance and may eligible for county and state historic preservation tax credits. There are currently 22 historic districts and 433 individual resources in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. Use our interactive mapping tool to find out if a property is designated.
 
The County Council has recently designated two properties: the Flower Theater, constructed in 1950, which anchored a National Register-eligible shopping center in the Long Branch Community and the Georgia Avenue Baptist Church, a National Register-eligible midcentury modern church, which continues to serve the Wheaton community.

The Council is currently evaluating whether to designate eight resources that are owned or operated by the Department of Parks.  Under consideration are five Parks recreation buildings, a house and barn located in Wheaton Regional Park, and the National Register-eligible Wheaton Youth Center on Georgia Avenue.  The Council's PHED committee is scheduled to hold a worksession on these resources on March 24.  Also up for designation is the Naval Ordnance Lab administrative building, now part of the FDA campus in White Oak.

The Historic Preservation Commission's next meeting is on March 26.  The Commission will consider projects in Capitol View Park, Chevy Chase Village, Kensington, Sandy Spring, and Takoma Park.  The meeting begins at 7:30 in the Planning Department's auditorium, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring and are open to the public.  The Commission generally meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

The historic preservation keeps people connected with information via Twitter and Facebook.  Find us at @MoCoHistPres and www.facebook.com/montgomeryplanning.  Our website is www.montgomeryplanning.org/historic. Email us at [email protected].