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Litchfield council approves preliminary distribution of state historic-building grant, allows one parcel exception
Summary
After a public hearing, the Litchfield City Council approved a preliminary allocation of state historic-building grant funds by facade square footage and agreed to treat 19 and 21 East Depot Street as a single parcel so that owner can combine the allocation.
The Litchfield City Council approved a preliminary distribution of state historic-building grant money on March 2, endorsing a square-footage-based allocation while adding an exception to treat 19 and 21 East Depot Street as a single parcel.
At a public hearing property owner Caleb Layman said the proposed allocation for the former tattoo-parlor building would be a "complete waste of money" because planned entryway work would not be historically accurate and would not address the building's practical needs. "I would argue it would be a complete waste of money," Layman told the council, urging the funds instead be applied to the adjacent Welch building.
Property owner Charles Berdick spoke in favor of the square-footage method, calling it "about as fair as anyone could possibly come up with," and suggested owners who hold adjacent buildings should be allowed to direct combined allocations to one building. William Hicks, representing the Mason Sonic Building, raised procedural questions about contracting deadlines and whether grant-funded improvements would change property-tax assessments.
City staff told the council the square-footage distribution was chosen to spread benefits broadly and to improve the greatest number of facades. Staff also confirmed the state has signed its contract and the city is awaiting final paperwork before sending contract language to property owners. Council members discussed whether to treat allocations by parcel or by address and whether to permit owners to allocate funds to a single building when they hold multiple facades.
After debate, the council voted to approve the preliminary distribution as presented in the meeting packet with one modification: 19 and 21 East Depot Street would be treated as a single parcel so their combined square footage can be used for a single improvement plan. The motion passed by roll call.
Next steps: staff will finalize contract details once the state paperwork arrives, and council members indicated they will clarify the sign-up timeline and tax-assessment questions for owners before the program moves to a final authorization.
