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New Historic District Proposed for Old Elm Street

An historic neighborhood along a 2.3-mile stretch of Route 1 may soon be getting the historic district treatment following a proposal by the Historic District Commission.

The Commission hosted a meet and greet on Aug. 28 to present a plan to introduce Old Elm Street as a historic district and to allow potential district neighbors to ask questions about what the designation might mean for residents.

The Old Elm Historic District Study Committee, chaired by Tom Boyle, has been conducting a study of the feasibility of such a designation. The current proposal would be a district along both sides of Route 1 from Janas Lane to Mungertown Road.

According to Boyle, the district is a rare residential neighborhood in a section once known as Elm Street. The unusual historic neighborhood embraces an approximately 2.3 mile stretch of Route 1 that was designated as a Connecticut Scenic Road in 2008, said Boyle.

Success of the Town’s other districts and the loss of a potentially important structure were motivations for the group to coalesce its concerns, Boyle said.

“The creation of the historic district around the Madison Green was a major impetus for the creation of the Old Elm Street District. An 18th century saltbox house in the neighborhood was torn down a few years ago and served as a wake-up call that we could lose other historic properties any time if we did not take some action. This section of Madison has some very historic properties and has a very charming character and is worth trying to preserve, enhance, and improve,” Boyle said.

The purpose of a local historic district is to preserve and protect the characteristics of all historic structures within its boundary, according to Boyle.

“It creates neighborhood cohesion and enhances the historic appearance and character of the area. Owners of properties in historic districts are eligible for state refunds for appropriate restoration work. An additional benefit is protection from demolition of the homes within the district,” said Boyle. “Madison currently has two such districts; the Madison Green Historic District and the Liberty Street Historic District.”

According to Boyle, it is critical that residents within the proposed district contact the committee to get information and guidance on how any decision on a designation might impact them. The study is moving forward with an historical architect that hopes to detail the importance of the area to the town and to document the historical significance of each of the homes in the proposed district.

“We welcome all new owners and would very much to hear from property owners who have not yet voiced and opinion on the proposed district. Our goal is to complete the study report within the next 12 months,” said Boyle. “After completion the report will be forwarded to the appropriate parties in accordance with State legislation. Then a public hearing will be scheduled, and lastly, all property owners will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed historic district. Local historic districts are not in place to prevent change but simply to guide it.”

Boyle said countering some of the fears of homeowners and the many misconceptions that residents have about the impact of living in an historic district are critical to the success of the proposal.

“The regulations of a local historic district apply only to changes visible from a public way. Exterior paint color, interior changes, and routine maintenance are not regulated,” Boyle added.

According to Boyle, there are a number of misconceptions about what the designation of an historic district means for property owners. Basically, only additions, new construction, or demolition of a structure are affected by an historic designation.

Among the misunderstandings, Boyle said that the district does not place restrictions on paint color, and owners are not compelled to open their homes for public tours. Additionally, the designation has no negative impact on property value nor does it have any impact on how property owners can utilize their property nor do owners have to restore their home to its original condition.

Boyle said the benefits outweigh the negatives when it comes to an historic designation for a community and emphasized that homeowners do not cede control of renovation or rehab to an historic district

“The loss of control of one's property is a very common reaction to the idea of a local historic district. It's really no different than needing to get a building permit for an addition or change to one's home or complying with local zoning regulations in order to build a home or build an addition. We all give up a bit of control in order to receive something else of value: Speed limits make our streets safer; zoning regulations ensure our neighborhoods remain stable and cohesive; building regulations ensure that homes are constructed properly with appropriate safety features.

According to Boyle, Historic districts are often a positive influence on neighborhoods and helps ensure protection of them.

“Nationwide as well as statewide experience demonstrates that the existence of a local historic district creates community pride, fosters neighborhood stabilization, and enhances the appearance and authentic historic character of an area. There are currently more than 6,000 buildings in 107 local historic districts in 65 town across Connecticut.” Boyle said. “The purpose of a local district designation is intended to preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places of architectural and historical significance of a community.”