Downtown Stafford is filled with history. Anyone walking down the street can see that, and it may become part of the National Register of Historic Places. At the October 12, 2023, Board of Selectmen meeting a very brief update was given on the project's progress, which is moving forward. The town plans to have a community meeting in January or February of 2024, when people will be able to ask questions and give comments, but, in the meantime, it's worth exploring what this designation would actually mean.
Back in February of 2023, representatives from the National Register Coordinator for State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and Roblee Historic Preservation, LLC provided an overview of the National Register program, the history of the downtown, and planned phases of completing the project, according to the project's information site. The proposed historic district is boundaried by Main Street (Route 190) to the north, Tolland Avenue and Hyde Park Road to the west, Highland Terrace to the south, and River Road (Route 32) to the east. Hyde Park, Haymarket Square, Highland Terrace, Spring Street, Main Street (up to where it becomes West Main Street), and a small portion of River Road would be included in the district.
This project, which is funded by a Survey & Planning Grant administered by the SHPO of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), has several goals. If the Stafford district in question is ultimately designated as a historical place, it will preserve Stafford’s history, possibly spur economic development, and encourage future preservation, while benefitting residents and business owners.
Sounds good, but a little nebulous, right?
Let's explore, in more concrete terms, what being on the National Register of Historic Places would mean for the people who live and work there, according to the DECD.
The National Register DOES:
Identify significant buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts.
Encourage the preservation of historic properties by documenting their significance and by lending support to local preservation activities.
Enable federal, state, and local agencies to consider historic properties in the early stages of planning projects.
Provide for review of federally funded, licensed, or sponsored projects which may affect historic properties.
Make qualified owners of historic properties eligible for federal and state grants for preservation activities.
Encourage the rehabilitation of income-producing historic properties through tax incentives.
Provide eligibility for the CT Historic Homes Rehabilitation Tax Credit program for owner-occupied historic homes.
Provide protection from unreasonable destruction under Connecticut General Statutes, Section 22a19a.
Allow consideration of fire and life safety code compliance alternatives when rehabilitating historic buildings.
The National Register DOES NOT:
Restrict the rights of private property owners in the use, development, or sale of private historic property.
Require that properties be maintained, repaired or restored.
Automatically lead to historic district zoning or local landmark designation.
Force federal, state, local or private projects to be stopped.
Provide for review of local or privately funded projects which may affect historic properties.
Guarantee that grant funds will be available for all historic properties or projects.
Provide federal tax credits to owners of residential historic properties, unless those properties are rental and treated as income-producing by the IRS.
Provide a marker plaque for registered properties (owners may purchase a plaque from the SHPO).
Ultimately, the biggest advantage of becoming a historic place could be providing incentives for property owners along Main Street to improve and preserve their buildings in exchange for tax breaks and grant money. With more buildings eligible for these benefits, it could incentivize landlords to upgrade spaces to make them more functional for businesses or habitable for tenants.
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