(July 13, 2017) Berlin Historic District Commission Vice Chairman Robert Poli wants to see the historic district expanded.
During the July 5 commission meeting, Poli said he would like the district to include the areas from North Main Street to Harrison Avenue, Powellton Avenue to William Street, William Street from Powellton Avenue back to Bay Street, all of Vine Street, Bay Street to Pitts Street and all of Pitts Street, Tripoli Street to Church Street, all of Church Street, Washington Street and Harrison Avenue, West Street to Buckingham Lane, and all of Buckingham Lane.
“Some day in the future, the 1960s will be considered historic as it represents changes in Berlin during its growth and development,” Poli said. “As it seems that Berlin’s borders are expanding, the size of the historic district should expand proportionately, from the center on out. Otherwise, people aren’t coming here for the history of this town anymore.”
Poli warned that Berlin, if it did not protect its historic areas, would become an extension of Ocean City and West Ocean City.
“I’ve seen this in towns up north where I grew up,” he said. “The hometown that I was in with only a population of 4,000 when I was 6 years old now has over 50,000 [people] with 25 high rises at least.
“This is the way I foresee the future of this town if we don’t keep strong with our guidelines of the historic district,” Poli added.
Commission Chairwoman Carol Rose said she previously asked the town to expand the district and said there was not much of a chance all the streets Poli mentioned would ever be included.
“I think we all need to realize we’re at that critical point about what are we going to do about these things,” commission member Mary Moore said.
Moore, Rose and others were also concerned about renovations they said were not up to historic district standards.
In particular, they said façade improvements at A Little Bit Sheepish and the former Berlin Shoe Box building, both on Main Street, were not done correctly.
“These two people didn’t even put an application in, which they should’ve, and I think they’re in violation,” Poli said. “Both, if you pass by … it doesn’t look nice. It doesn’t even look historic anymore. It looks like slapstick and I don’t like it.”
Town Administrator Laura Allen said she would look into those situations and see if the commission or the town had any recourse.
“Both of these things really need to [be examined],” Moore said. “We’re not doing our job well if we’re not representing the town itself, the charm and all the things we love so much about it.”
Moore also said Realtors who show homes and businesses in the historic district should let their clients know what the guidelines and expectations are.
“The idea is not scaring people away,” Poli said. “If somebody comes in and they buy a house not knowing that’s in the historic district, and then they can’t afford certain windows because they have to be a certain standard, then they shouldn’t have bought that house there.”
During the July 5 commission meeting, Poli said he would like the district to include the areas from North Main Street to Harrison Avenue, Powellton Avenue to William Street, William Street from Powellton Avenue back to Bay Street, all of Vine Street, Bay Street to Pitts Street and all of Pitts Street, Tripoli Street to Church Street, all of Church Street, Washington Street and Harrison Avenue, West Street to Buckingham Lane, and all of Buckingham Lane.
“Some day in the future, the 1960s will be considered historic as it represents changes in Berlin during its growth and development,” Poli said. “As it seems that Berlin’s borders are expanding, the size of the historic district should expand proportionately, from the center on out. Otherwise, people aren’t coming here for the history of this town anymore.”
Poli warned that Berlin, if it did not protect its historic areas, would become an extension of Ocean City and West Ocean City.
“I’ve seen this in towns up north where I grew up,” he said. “The hometown that I was in with only a population of 4,000 when I was 6 years old now has over 50,000 [people] with 25 high rises at least.
“This is the way I foresee the future of this town if we don’t keep strong with our guidelines of the historic district,” Poli added.
Commission Chairwoman Carol Rose said she previously asked the town to expand the district and said there was not much of a chance all the streets Poli mentioned would ever be included.
“I think we all need to realize we’re at that critical point about what are we going to do about these things,” commission member Mary Moore said.
Moore, Rose and others were also concerned about renovations they said were not up to historic district standards.
In particular, they said façade improvements at A Little Bit Sheepish and the former Berlin Shoe Box building, both on Main Street, were not done correctly.
“These two people didn’t even put an application in, which they should’ve, and I think they’re in violation,” Poli said. “Both, if you pass by … it doesn’t look nice. It doesn’t even look historic anymore. It looks like slapstick and I don’t like it.”
Town Administrator Laura Allen said she would look into those situations and see if the commission or the town had any recourse.
“Both of these things really need to [be examined],” Moore said. “We’re not doing our job well if we’re not representing the town itself, the charm and all the things we love so much about it.”
Moore also said Realtors who show homes and businesses in the historic district should let their clients know what the guidelines and expectations are.
“The idea is not scaring people away,” Poli said. “If somebody comes in and they buy a house not knowing that’s in the historic district, and then they can’t afford certain windows because they have to be a certain standard, then they shouldn’t have bought that house there.”