By Sofia Montoya-Deck<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Frederick board of aldermen voted 4-1 Oct. 5 in favor of dismissing a historic preservation overlay (HPO) that prevented Hood College from proceeding with plans to raze Strawn Cottage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to vice president for Marketing & Communications Laurie Ward, Hood planned to take down Strawn and Carson cottages at the end of the spring semester to expand the parking lot by an additional 50 spots. However, in the process of getting a permit from the city, the Historic Preservation Commission put in a request for an HPO on Strawn Cottage, which stalled the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite receiving documents from Hood arguing the basis of the HPO, the committee still voted to move forward with the application. The overlay continued forward to the Frederick County Planning Commission where it was voted against. Accordingly, the application was sent to the mayor and board of aldermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the public city hall meeting Thursday evening, the mayor and board of aldermen heard points from a representative of the Historic Preservation Committee as well as Hood College attorney Anne Rollins, and Hood President Andrea Chapdelaine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rollins argued that \u201cStrawn Cottage itself does not meet the land management code criteria for retaining its historic integrity or significance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is always a balance between how do we preserve this incredible gift that this community has in this campus as well as continue to meet the safety, the educational and the community needs of our students,\u201d Chapdelaine added. She explained that the investment in maintaining Strawn Cottage would ultimately outweigh the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After over an hour of discussion, the board came to a vote. Four Aldermen voted against the approval of the HPO while Alderwoman Kuzemchak dissented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parking on Hood\u2019s campus has become an evolving issue for students and faculty alike. \u201cCampus is landlocked,\u201d Ward explains. \u201cWe can only do what we can do with the space that we have because we have neighborhoods and the hospital on all sides of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood\u2019s landscaping plan has always called for taking down Carson and Strawn cottages. With the recent dismissal of the HPO, Hood should be able to proceed with these plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of the proposal for increased parking entails removing the garden and greenhouse located behind Carson Cottage. Josephine Sasse, president of the Sustaining Hood club, started a petition against the negative effects of the proposed parking plan on Change.org. It currently has over 95 signatures. \u201cIt is my responsibility as a student leader to speak up when I see potential for meaningful change,\u201d Sasse said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sasse comprised a list for the Hood leadership team with alternative options to consider in place of razing the cottages and greenhouse, such as the addition of a parking garage. The financial burden of this project could be lessened by \u201cHood College [starting] a capital campaign to build this parking garage in collaboration with the City of Frederick,\u201d Sasse said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, Sasse suggested a partnership with the Frederick Health Hospital, as they own the five-story parking garage located behind Blazer Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ward confirmed that after the completion of the new parking spots, the school plans to rebuild the greenhouse somewhere else. \u201cWhen they built the greenhouse and garden, it was always a part of the plan that it was a temporary location,\u201d she said. \u201cThe master plan always included expanding the parking on that side of campus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ward says that the school is aiming to preserve greenspace while still adapting to the evolving needs of students. \u201cAs times change and the car population grows, we\u2019re doing our best to meet that need with the space that we have available,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"