Historic District Designation Sought for Residential Area

The Upper Marlboro Board of Town Commissioners is applying to the National Regsiter of Historic Places to have several acres of the town recognized as an historic district.

The proposed Town of Upper Marlboro Residential Area consists of nearly 100 acres on the town's western side and includes 90 various structures, both publicly and privately owned. The area is bordered by 14204 Old Marlboro Pike to the north, 14519 Elm Street/14508 Main Street to the east, Western Branch to the south, and 5600 Old Crain Highway to the west.

The Historic District designation would publicly recognize the historical importance of the proposed area and its contribution to the development of Upper Marlboro.

"You will be able to promote the historic and cultural value [of the area] and it does provide recognition," said Howard Berger, acting supervisor for the Historic Preservation Section at the county's planning department. 

Berger was asked by the Board of Town Commissioners to conduct the presentation on the findings of a historical survey completed earlier this year for the town's revitalization plan.

In September, Berger conducted the presentation on the historical and architectural importance of the buildings, and received questions from residents on boundaries and properties included and excluded from the proposed area.

"The response was generally favorable," said Stephen Sonnett, president of the board of town commissioners. "We're trying to get as much residents' input as possible."

The National Register of Historic Places is a nationwide database of structures of historical significance, operated by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior. Under the section of designation sought for the proposed area, private property owners are under no restrictions or obligations by being included within a historic district.

According to the application, the proposed area consists of structures dating from the mid-18th to the mid-20th centuries. Upper Marlboro became the county seat in 1721 and was the center of government of politics for the county. It saw significant development among the African American population after the Civil War.

The application also highlights the collection of architecture that reflected the styles of the time, including Queen Anne, Greek Revival, and Tudor architectural styles. Two of the properties included in the proposed area are already listed on the National Register.  

Berger says that he is currently making corrections to the application based on residents' questions before sending it on to the Board of Town Commissioners. If a decision is made to move forward, it will be forwarded to the Prince Georges County Historic Preservation Commission for debate, where the public is expected to be invited.

A copy of the current application forms can be found on the town's web site for viewing.