Preservation Maryland

Latest posts tagged in Advocacy

04/14/2021
By Elly Colmers Cowan

Sine Die 2021: State Legislative Advocacy Report

The 2021 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly came to a close on Monday, April 12, 2021. After 90 days of championing key bills and testifying on many other pieces of important legislation, it is safe to say that Preservation Maryland had one of its busiest legislative sessions in recent history, and everything was accomplished remotely. With Session adjourned until January 2022, we are happy to report that we were able to make significant advances for preservation and smart growth in Maryland.

03/10/2021
By Elly Colmers Cowan

National Park Service Releases 2020 Historic Tax Credit Economic Impact Report

The National Park Service recently released their Federal Tax Incentives for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings Annual Report for FY 2020, and it shows that despite the unprecedented year, the federal historic tax credit was able to have a positive impact for historic communities across Maryland and around the country.

03/10/2021
By Preservation Maryland

Preservation Maryland Signs-On in Support of African American Burial Ground Legislation

Preservation Maryland is proud to have signed on in support of federal legislation that will create a funded study program to preserve African American cemeteries across the country – sacred places that deserve reverence and protection.

Main Street

The Program: Main Street Maryland is a comprehensive downtown revitalization program created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and established in Maryland in 1998 by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Nationally, Main Street organizations that make up the Main Street Network have rehabbed more than 251,000 buildings, produced $61.7 billion in investment, and created 528,557 jobs.

Today there are 23 designated Main Street communities across the state and 9 Main Street communities in Baltimore City.

Main Street Maryland Communities

Annapolis
Bel Air
Berlin
Brunswick
Cambridge
Chestertown
Cumberland
Denton
Dundalk
Easton
Elkton
Frederick

Frostburg
Havre De Grace
Middletown
Mount Airy
Oakland
Princess Anne
Salisbury
Takoma Park
Taneytown
Thurmont
Westminster

Baltimore Main Street Communities

Belair-Edison Main Street
East Monument Street Main Street
Federal Hill Main Street
Fell’s Point Main Street
Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street

Highlandtown Main Street
Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street
Pigtown Main Street
Waverly Main Street

Maryland communities meeting the following criteria may apply for participation in the Main Street Maryland program:

A minimum population of 1,000 based on the most recent U.S. Census survey

Commitment to employ a program manager for a minimum of three years

Commitment to organize and maintain a volunteer board of directors and committees made up of public and private sector individuals

Commitment to provide a program budget for a minimum of three years

Must be a Designated Neighborhood approved by the State of Maryland

Must have a defined central business district with a significant number of historic commercial buildings.

Our Position: Preservation Maryland emphatically supports the Maryland Main Street program and works with the Department of Housing and Community Development to assist, enhance and promote the work of these organizations whenever possible. Preservation Maryland supports full funding of the program as a component of the Department of Housing and Community Development budget.

Resources

Advocacy Issues Main Street