Historic Preservation Commission seeks incentives, grants and public support to stabilize Thompson House

Members of the Carbondale Historic Preservation Commission told the Board of Trustees at a work session on April 15 that they are expanding outreach and design‑review work for Old Town residential properties and pushing to preserve and reopen the Thompson House to public tours.

Commission vice chair Kim McGee and commissioners described steady interest in the commission's work: the commission placed six structure-of-merit plaques this year and produced a postcard-style self-guided walking tour with a QR link to the Clio.com entries. The commission also reported it retained historic-preservation consultant Susanna Reid to prepare design-guideline recommendations for the Old Town Residential (OTR) zone, with community outreach planned this summer.

Why it matters: commissioners said local preservation work helps maintain neighborhood character while also being a community asset for tourism and education. Commissioners emphasized incentives and voluntary guidance rather than mandatory demolition blocks; they asked trustees to consider noncash incentives for owners of historic residences, such as setback relief or density adjustments, along with potential parking offsets or ADU allowances to make preservation more feasible.

Thompson House: commissioners and trustees discussed the Thompson House (built 1885). Commissioners said the town has set aside about $100,000 over the last three years toward rehabilitation but that the total need is far larger. Commissioners reported there was an engineering study and earlier estimates in 2017–18 that put initial work around $750,000; they said construction costs have risen and the amount now is likely significantly higher. The commission said the Second Floor needs structural work and that prior documentation and quotes exist but would require new requests for proposals to update costs and scope. The building official inspected the house and advised that the First Floor may be opened for docent-led small-group tours, but the Second Floor requires major rehabilitation before public access.

Grants and next steps: commissioners said they explored a Scenic Byways grant but that the Thompson House did not qualify because it is not on Highway 133; they are also investigating State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) grant opportunities. Commissioners said the Susanna Reid contract is funded in part by a grant with a deadline of May 31, 2026 for the design-guideline deliverable; they expect public outreach this summer and a draft recommendation next year that would form the basis of a code text amendment through planning and zoning if the trustees direct it.

Public comment and volunteers: Jim Kehoe, a local contractor who has worked on historic properties, offered to volunteer expertise for further inspections or contractor outreach. Commissioners emphasized coordination with the Carbondale Historical Society, which has volunteer docents and could run tours if structural issues that block first-floor access are resolved; trustees and staff said they will try to help coordinate grant-support and fundraising work.

What was not resolved: the board did not commit additional capital spending beyond existing set-aside funds or adopt any mandatory preservation ordinance. Commissioners said they would return with draft design-guideline language and proposed incentive packages for trustee consideration.

Next steps: commissioners will continue community outreach on the OTR guidelines this summer; staff and trustees will consider capacity for grant writing and potential town support for fundraising and for updated engineering/RFP work on the Thompson House.