Preservation Maryland is pleased to announce the hiring of Laura Houston, the organization’s first full-time historic property redevelopment manager. Houston, a Texas native, joins the team at a time of dynamic growth for the organization and will oversee Preservation Maryland’s rapidly expanding portfolio of historic property redevelopment projects.
historic property redevelopment program expansion
The organization’s historic property redevelopment program was launched in 2019, with the support of many individuals and private and public funders, including the 1772 Foundation, the Middendorf Foundation, the Rural Maryland Council, the State of Maryland, and the Delaplaine Foundation.
Today, as a result of the generosity of those funders and the support of the Board of Preservation Maryland, the program is engaged in historic rehabilitation projects across the state — including at 417 North Jonathan Street in Hagerstown and at the Burtis House on City Dock in Annapolis. The organization is also planning additional projects around the state and Houston’s arrival will help to build the capacity necessary to take on these increasingly complex projects.
laura houston
Laura Houston earned her M.A. in European Cultural Politics and Policy from New York University and B.A. in International Studies from Texas State University. She previously worked as a Historical Sites Specialist for the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources managing preservation projects and the spending of federal and state funds for the Division Grants Program. She also served as Research Associate for the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation where she oversaw research projects and assisted in writing and editing organization publications.
Born and raised in Texas, Laura loves to travel and soak up the histories of the places she visits and the stories of those whose lives have given significance to each place. It is this appreciation for history and cultural heritage that cemented her desire to invest in historic preservation. She could not be more excited to get to know Maryland and her fellow Marylanders as she, her husband, and their rescue pup Roscoe make the beautiful state their home.