Description
The Hall-Benedict Drug Company Building is listed on the National Register Register of Historic Places and it is also a contributing property in the Whitney Avenue Historic District. Does the historic designation protect the building from changes to its exterior appearance? Recently, the distinctive arched window on the Orange Street side of the building was replaced with a hideous modern replacement. The original window is in the dumpster on Linden Street and could possibly be salvaged. Is there anything that can be done to preserve the historic nature of this neighborhood? Buildings are being routinely gutted and altered at an accelerating pace.
4 Comments
Gaboury (Registered User)
I contacted Anstress Farwell, architectural preservation maven. She wrote:
"Preservation tools in National Register District are all carrot and no stick. If the property owner wished to use historic tax credits - a real benefit for income producing properties - the treatment of the facade would need to meet National Park Service standards. Destroying original materials would not meet these standards. Do you know the owner? Could a group of neighbors approach them? If so, I’d be glad to join you.
Greater protections, and the requirement that an owner seek a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission (HDC), are afforded only to historic resources in the Local Historic Districts. These districts are created by a vote of property owners, and East Rock has not chosen to do this (yet). Still, neighbors could ask for this to be discussed at the HDC. This can be helpful, even though the HDC has no powers. Donna Hall is now the HDC coordinator in City Plan, we could ask if it could be put on the June agenda:
dhall@newhavenct.gov
(203) 946-7842"
I would also be willing to help.
Roger (Registered User)
Acknowledged Rebecca Bombero, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (Verified Official)
Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services (Verified Official)