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Preservation consultant outlines plan for downtown historic district tied to library grant
Summary
A consultant for the Preservation Trust of Vermont told the Northfield Select Board he will seek a National Register historic district so the Brown Public Library can receive a Paul Bruhn grant; a public meeting is set for July 20 and the Vermont advisory council will review the nomination in September.
Matt Shoen, a historic preservationist with the Clark Group LLC, told the Northfield Select Board he was hired by the Preservation Trust of Vermont to prepare a National Register nomination for downtown Northfield so the Brown Public Library can access Paul Bruhn grant funding to repair its roof.
"My name is Matt Shoen, and I am a historic preservationist with the Clark Group LLC," Shoen said, and he described two ways a property can be listed on the National Register: individually or as part of a district. Shoen told the board the library’s 1999 addition reduced its architectural integrity for an individual listing, so the library’s eligibility for the grant depends on creating a district that includes the library.
Shoen said the nomination’s boundaries largely follow survey work done in the 1980s by the state, supplemented with his recent field photos and research. He said the downtown district focuses on themes tied to the railroad, commerce and civic resources, and that residential areas the state previously excluded remained outside the proposed boundary when the street pattern becomes predominantly residential.
Asked what would happen if the town rejected the proposed district, Shoen said: "If the town rejects the historic district, then the library will not be able to get its funding." He added the Preservation Trust plans neighborhood outreach: a public meeting set for July 20 at the high school and mailed notices to property owners in the proposed boundaries, and the Vermont Advisory Council for Historic Preservation is expected to review the nomination in September.
Board members and residents asked whether being on the National Register would limit owners’ ability to alter properties. Shoen said the National Register itself only has potential bearing on projects that use federal funds; private owners who are not using federal money could alter or demolish buildings. He also noted that commercial property owners who choose to pursue rehabilitation could access historic tax‑credit programs but would need to follow appropriate preservation standards to qualify.
The board thanked Shoen for the presentation and said it would publicize the July 20 meeting. Shoen offered to provide text the town could share and to coordinate further public outreach.
The board asked for no final action tonight; the nomination process will continue with the scheduled public meeting and the Preservation Trust’s outreach to residents.
