As a part of Smart Growth Maryland’s ongoing efforts to support community revitalization across the state, Kimberly Golden Brandt, the Director of the program was recently appointed to serve on the City of Brunswick’s Preservation and Revitalization Committee, which met for the first time on February 5, 2019.
The committee’s formation was the result of sustained advocacy by Preservation Maryland following several high-profile demolition proposals in the historic community. The new committee is tasked with creating a plan for protecting and preserving Brunswick’s rich historic and cultural resources.
Brunswick’s Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 for its contributions to the history of transportation in Maryland and the region. Brunswick was once a hub for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which operated a sizable rail yard. Unfortunately, there is currently has no local legislation in place to protect the city’s historic resources from demolition or neglect.
Cities and towns in Maryland and throughout the country employ demolition ordinances, conservation districts, and local historic preservation districts to protect their historic resources. Brunswick’s Preservation and Revitalization Committee will consider a variety of preservation tools and ultimately recommend to the Mayor and City Council a course of action for protecting the city’s wealth of historic and cultural resources.
Smart Growth Maryland appreciates the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive effort to protect and enhance one of Maryland’s most delightful downtowns.