Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Grants Funds to Support Restoration of the Berlin House and More
BRUNSWICK, Md., Dec. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Oct. 21, 2022, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) distributed nearly $72 million dollars in grant aid for statewide rehabilitation projects. The City of Brunswick and Brunswick Main Street are delighted to announce that three of their projects have received funding.
Brunswick Mayor Nathan Brown expressed his appreciation to the DHCD, saying, "The City of Brunswick is so excited to continue our downtown revitalization efforts with these projects which will offer a new way to experience Brunswick's history and provide parking to accommodate additional visitor traffic."
Brunswick Main Street Manager Carmen Hilton was also grateful, sharing that "Brunswick Main Street is thrilled to know that the State sees the value in our efforts, which so far have resulted in property improvements worth over one million dollars, and has chosen to enable us to continue the Facade & Interior Improvement Grant Program. It's the least we can do for the business owners who are working so hard to invest in our downtown."
The following projects were chosen to receive DHCD awards:
- Berlin House (formerly known as "Snoots House") Restoration
City of Brunswick: $200,000.00
Built in the mid-to-late 1800s, the Berlin House is one of the oldest in Brunswick. It predates the City's current name (which it adopted in 1890) and takes its moniker from the town's old name, Berlin. The Taft-Mills Group, which is slated to purchase the property, released the property from its contract and ceded it back to the City in light of its historic significance. The City, in partnership with Preservation Maryland, will adapt and reuse the Berlin House as adjunct interpretive space for the Brunswick Heritage Museum to explore life in Brunswick in the decades surrounding the Civil War, prior to the railroad boom. Funding for the project has been committed by the Taft-Mills Group and the Delaplaine Foundation.
- Façade & Interior Improvement Grant Program
Brunswick Main Street: $50,000.00
The Façade & Interior Improvement Grant is one of Brunswick Main Street's longest running programs. Business and commercial property owners use these grant funds to maintain and enhance some of our most important downtown buildings and businesses, and contribute to improving the attractiveness and revitalization of our core downtown business district. Projects funded have included new roofs, windows, and siding, brick repointing, retiling, HVAC replacement, electrical system enhancement, and exterior signage.
- Rehabilitation of the Former Imperial Theater Lot
City of Brunswick: $50,000.00
The property at 226-228 West Potomac Street was once home to the Imperial Theater, a pre-World War I venue for first-run movies going back to silent films. It operated for fifty years before a roof collapse in 1962 closed it down. Plans to refit the space never materialized, and the address has been an empty lot for decades. The funding received will be used to improve the available parking in the lot by paving it, shoring up the embankment that runs along West Potomac Street, installing steps to improve accessibility from the parking lot to the sidewalk, and installing attractive landscaping and fencing in the area.
About the City of Brunswick
The City of Brunswick is located in south-western Frederick County along the Potomac River, the C & O National Historic Park, and the MARC train line. Proud of its historic contribution as a railroad and canal hub to Frederick County's growth and development, Brunswick continues to attract commercial and residential growth with its easy proximity to urban centers and beautiful natural resources, award-winning schools, and small-town charm.
About Brunswick Main Street
Brunswick Main Street is part of Main Street America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that supports communities in their efforts to revitalize struggling downtowns while retaining their unique, historic characters. Dedicated to the economic success of its downtown, Brunswick Main Street, created in 2004, works to revitalize the charm and history and show residents and visitors why Downtown Brunswick is a great place to live, work, shop and play. To learn more about Brunswick Main Street and how you can get involved, please visit brunswickmainstreet.org.
Media Contact
Carmen Hilton, Brunswick Main Street, 301-834-7500 x124, [email protected]
SOURCE Brunswick Main Street
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