Downtown Dover-Foxcroft may be designated as National Register Commercial Historic District

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre is leading an effort to create a National Register Commercial Historic District in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. The area could include as many as 14 buildings from In the Woods (the former site of Mr. Paperback) on East Main Street up to the Observer Building Museum at the intersection with Pleasant Street.

The designation would pose no restrictions on property owners’ buildings, but would provide assistance in the form of historic tax credits and grant application eligibility.

“I have done more than 30 National Historic registrations in Maine,” Scott Hanson of Topsham, senior associate with  MacRostie Historic Advisors, said during a Feb. 24 public hearing conducted on Zoom. Hanson said that over the last decade-plus, he has helped downtowns in Augusta, Lewiston, Rumford and Waterville earn historic designations as well as worked on historic tax credits for The Mill at Dover-Foxcroft campus at the former home of Moosehead Manufacturing.

Thanks to a grant from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, he is consulting and helping the Center Theatre with the project application process.

Going through a slideshow — the presentation and more information is posted on the Center Theatre website at https://www.centertheatre.org/dfhistoric-district — Hanson explained what a National Register Commercial Historic District is.

“It is not a local historic district,” he said. “Which would come with a local review board and approval to make changes to the building.”

Hanson said a National Register Commercial Historic District requires no formal approval for proposed projects with the exceptions of work using federal funds or when a federal permit is required. He said a state board does look at buildings located within National Register Commercial Historic Districts, “but when push comes to shove, they would not stop a property owner from doing what they want to do.”

Properties listed in a National Register Commercial Historic District are eligible for historic tax credits (20 to 55 percent) for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. “Then there is a review process they have chosen to take part in,” Hanson said.

Other benefits listed on the project website include mentioning a National Register Commercial Historic District would promote community and encourage visitors, plus projects in the area can be eligible for specific grants and funding.

The negatives listed explain that if there are federal dollars or federal permits involved in a project in the district, there is paperwork and a review by the State Historic Preservation Office. But it is only a consultation. They can offer suggestions, but have no ability to change or impede the project.

Hanson said the district is “focused on the dense commercial part of the downtown” and “takes in the buildings that have the character of the historic downtown.” Hanson said the proposed National Register Commercial Historic District —  the proposed outline was suggested by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission — could possibly be extended across the East Main Street bridge over the Piscataquis River to include several additional structures on Lincoln Street. These are the Chandler Building and around the corner to Bob’s Farm, Home and Garden.

Homes farther up East Main Street would prevent the district boundary from being moved in that direction.

“The reason downtown Dover-Foxcroft is eligible to be a historic district is it is largely intact from the late 19th century and early 20th century,” Hanson said, going through old photographs featuring the Bank Building, former home of Athens Pizzeria, Masonic Temple and more.

Areas of significance of a National Register Commercial Historic District are architecture, commerce, community planning and development and entertainment/recreation. “These have to do with the history of the area,” Hanson said.

He explained these contributing buildings add to the historical significance of the district within the areas of significance, retain sufficient architectural integrity to be recognizable from the period of significance and are potentially eligible for the use of historic tax credits.

“Fraternal organizations have played a huge role in the histories of our communities in Maine,” Hanson said, with an image of the Masonic building on the screen. “These are important in the history of our communities and the character of our communities.”

Looking at the picture, Hanson said the theater exterior has an art deco design reminiscent of the 1930s. 

During a meeting of the Dover-Foxcroft Selectmen earlier in the week, Center Theatre Executive Director Patrick Myers said the Center Theatre is pursuing the project because as a building within an historic district, the organization will qualify for grants and funding not otherwise available. The first anticipated project using this funding will be to improve the columns and exterior facing the Piscataquis River.

“This district will not add any burdens or restrictions to any project that goes on in there,” Myers said. He said he has spoken with 10 of the 13 property owners in the proposed National Register Commercial Historic District, with nine being in favor and the other being undecided.

When asked about any financial commitment from the municipality, Myers responded, “There are no burdens or liabilities on the town.”

At the meeting the selectmen voted to support a nomination for the National Register Commercial Historic District.

Select Vice Chairman Cindy Freeman Cyr said when Hanson initially brought the proposal forward he almost seemed to be defending the merits of the project, but “now I’m feeling more excited about the possibilities for our community.”

She said when she first started volunteering for the organization then known as Womancare (today it is Partners for Peace and Freeman Cyr works for the agency as a rural advocate), she worked out of the second floor of what was referred to as the Koritsky building and the location has gone through many uses in its history. 

 “This concept of a community district is something I have not thought of before,” she said.

“The process is I will do the research to document the history of the district,” Hanson said. He said he would write a National Register Commercial Historic District nomination draft for the Maine Historic Preservation District staff. The group would then make suggestions for a final draft to go to the district commission for the next quarterly meeting.

“I’m not aware the commission has ever said ‘no’ if staff says it is complete,” Hanson said. He said from there the application would be forwarded to the National Park Service for consideration and potential listing on the register.

“I would expect mid to late fall this year,” Hanson said about learning the status of the proposed National Register Commercial Historic District.

Chris Maas of the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society concluded the hearing by saying the organization would be happy to work with Hanson, as had been done for the Mill project.