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Committee says Houston Mill unsafe to enter; restoration estimate may reach $1 million
Summary
Silver Spring Township’s Conservation and Preservation Committee discussed access and safety concerns at Houston Mill and heard an estimate that full restoration could cost as much as $1,000,000; no restoration plan was adopted and the tentative presenter was absent.
The Silver Spring Township Conservation and Preservation Committee discussed safety and restoration concerns at Houston Mill during its May 4 meeting and said the structure is not currently safe to enter. Committee members relayed information presented at the meeting that a complete restoration could cost as much as $1,000,000, though the group characterized that figure as an estimate rather than a formal cost study.
No member identified a concrete restoration plan at the meeting. Ray Palmer, who had been listed as a tentative presenter for the Houston Mill item, was not in attendance, and members said further information is needed before the committee can pursue site access or restoration funding. The item was discussed as part of the committee’s ongoing review of historic properties but did not result in a formal motion or assignment at this session.
The discussion underscored safety and funding as the primary barriers to any immediate visitation or restoration work. Committee members noted the need for more detailed cost estimates and potential grant or funding options before scheduling a site visit or launching any preservation effort. The committee did not set a date for follow-up on the mill at the May 4 meeting.
