Hebron Historic Properties Commission

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Hebron Historic Properties Commission
Members
Deena Watson, Chairman Lynn Schroder, Vice
Chairman Lara Bordick, Member Rich Cassata,
Member Donna McCalla, Member Peter Moon,
Alternate

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The Background
Why are we here tonight?

• The Town of Hebron is in a unique situation.
• Citizens are about to be asked
• Should 150 East St. be publicly or privately
  owned?
• If 150 East St. should be privately owned, are
  the current terms of sale agreeable?

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Hebron Historic Properties Commission
Why is the HHPC Involved?

• The Town purchased an open space parcel which
  included a recognized historic property.
• The HPC was given the role of ascertaining
• just how important (culturally and historically)
  this property might be
• if there might be some use for the property

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The Experts
We requested assistance
Special Guests
Contributors

• Robert B. Hurd - AIA, The Architects
• Gregory Farmer - Circuit Rider, Connecticut Trust
  for Historic Preservation
• Mary Dunne - Grants Coordinator, Connecticut
  Commission on Culture and Tourism

• John Obed Curtis, Antique house and restoration
  expert
• Brent Leggs, African American Heritage
  Initiative, National Trust for Historic
  Preservation

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150 East St. - Assessing the significance
Professional Opinions
From the Robert Hurd Report

• Recommendation 1 municipal community center
  and office building as the best alternative use
  for the property.
• Recommendation 2 Sale of the house for use as a
  private residence
• Noted that load capacity for the structure
  exceeds requirements of 50 pounds per square foot
  required by state building code for all levels
  should the house be used for community or office
  usage.
• Noted the unique early built-in chest on
  second floor.
• Noted that because the house has less than 3,000
  square feet on any floor, the second floor need
  not be handicapped accessible if the activities
  on both levels are the same.
• Building is well made and structurally sound.

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150 East St. - Assessing the significance
Professional Opinions
From the John Obed Curtis Report

• The built in chest on second floor is extremely
  rare, and may be the only one in Connecticut.
• The red sandstone fireplace in the ell, with its
  curiously projecting feet is rather elegant,
  and indicates that portion of the house was built
  between 1750 and 1775.
• The second floor ballroom is remarkablealthough
  regrettably bisected by a modern curtain wall to
  create two conventionally sized rooms the tray
  ceiling shows that it was once one large room.
• Ballroom benches are all original, although they
  have been covered with other materials.
• The fireplaces are all original, as is much of
  the door hardware

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150 East St. - Assessing the significance
Professional Opinions
From the Bruce Clouette Report

• Concludes that the house was owned by Jonathan
  Peters, the brother of Reverend Samuel Peters.
• Concludes that the house has been commonly
  associated with Reverend Samuel Peters because
  Samuel owned all the surrounding land.
• In his summary, states that Not withstanding
  the fact that the Reverend Samuel Peters did not
  own the house, it is highly likely that the
  abduction of Cesar Peters and his family occurred
  on the property at 150 East Street.

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150 East St. - Assessing the Significance
Formal Recognitions

• State of Connecticut, Historical Property
  Designation
• Unanimously Endorsed for Connecticut Freedom
  Trail by Amistad Committee
• Nominated by HPC for Local Historic Property
  Designation (Planned Public Hearing Feb. 26,2008)

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What has Hebron Considered so far
The Proposals

• Town received proposals until June 22, 2007
• Five proposals from two individuals
• One from Jeffery Farber to reuse the property as
  a private residence
• Four from John Baron with various uses (2 public
  uses, 2 private uses)

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150 East St. - Public Ownership
What is unique about Public Ownership?

• Given the aforementioned recognitions and given
  that the property is publicly owned there are
  potential funding opportunities
• What kind of funding?
• Certified Local Government (CLG) Planning Grant
• Historic Restoration Funds (HRF) grants available
  up to 200,000 per year requires matching funds
• Others sources may be available
• This funding is not available if the house is in
  private hands

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150 East St. - Public Ownership
Considerations for Public Ownership

• Usage - Fill Town and Community Needs
• Cost - Renovation cost could be matched and
  operating costs would be normal cost of running
  town business
• Location - The proximity to the park is an
  asset to public ownership but could be a
  liability to private ownership
• Open Space Land Policy Building was purchased
  as part of an open space land acquisition

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Private Sale
Best Practices

• Local historic designation (Exterior)
• Preservation Easements (Interior)

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Private Sale
Procedures for this sale

• Terms of Sale include protections for many
  important interior features
• Terms of Sale provide for a renovation timeline

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Where are we now?
The Town Entities

• The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended
  against the sale of the house on Dec., 11, 2007
• The HPC stands by its December 2005
  recommendation that accompanied the Hurd report
  to keep the property in public hands
• If the property is to be sold, the HPC
  recommends a stronger agreement that provides for
  long term preservation of the property and a
  revised and improved solicitation process which
  would net the best combination of preservation
  and financial benefit to the Town

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