The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development finances thousands of projects annually that range from facade improvement programs on Main Street to large multi-family housing developments. The Department is committed to supporting our partners in the preservation of Maryland’s unique historic communities.
However, preservation of individual buildings is not always possible, and occasionally there is a need to remove blight, upgrade, or fulfill the highest and best use for the community as a whole.
In accordance with State and Federal law, the Department consults with the State Historic Preservation Office (the Maryland Historical Trust) to assess the impact our projects have on cultural resources. The Department works with our project partners to avoid, minimize, and mitigate harm to historic structures and archaeological sites in a process known as “Section 106 Review.” To learn more about this process, please visit the
Maryland Historical Trust - Section 106 Review Process.
Current Projects Seeking Comment
The Department consults with the Maryland Historical Trust on hundreds of projects every year, but only a handful are determined to have an adverse effect on historic resources and require resolution. This page will be updated to provide information on select projects that the Department is currently soliciting public comment on. Your input will help the Department identify significant cultural resources that may be impacted, as well as guide the decision-making process on avoidance, minimization, and mitigation efforts.
Downtown Frederick Hotel and Conference Center
200 E Patrick Street, Frederick
The Department of Housing and Community Development awarded a grant to the City of Frederick to assist with the pre-development of the proposed downtown hotel and conference center in Frederick.
The development involves adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of the historic News Post Building/Frederick Railway Terminal Building located at 212 E Patrick Street, demolition of the non-historic 1967 addition to the Press building, demolition of the historic Birely Tannery building located at 200 East Patrick Street and its associated archaeological site and new construction of a hotel and conference center with a parking garage.
The News Post Building and Birely Tannery Building are located within and contribute to the significance of the Frederick Historic District. Additionally, the Birely Tannery archaeological site was considered separately and determined to be individually eligible for inclusion in the National Register.
The Trust determined that demolition of the resources constitutes an adverse effect on historic and archaeological resources. The development team is proposing the following mitigation measures to resolve the adverse effect:
Summary of Proposed Mitigation:
- Archaeological data recovery of the Birely Tannery Site in accordance with an approved Treatment Plan
- Archival digital Photos of the Tannery Building
- An integrated public interpretation program including public outreach, exterior wayside exhibits and interior hotel and conference center displays
- Salvage and reuse of the existing stone retaining wall
The Crossroad of Frederick
Project Site
The Department is soliciting public comment on the proposed mitigation plan for the Frederick Downtown Hotel and Conference center until September 20, 2024. To comment, please complete and submit the
Contact Form.
Additional Resources
