The Kentlands Firehouse: HD-34 and RFP Committee

Planning Director Lauren Pruss Phone 301-258-6330 Email plancode@gaithersburgmd.gov

HD-34 Background:

On November 3, 2011 the City of Gaithersburg Historic District Commission (HDC) issued a certificate of approval for demolition permit application PI-B110828, allowing for the demolition of the garage portion of the Kentlands Firehouse. As part of the issuance of the certificate of approval, the HDC unanimously recommended the Kentlands Firehouse for designation as a local historic resource.

The Kentlands Firehouse was built sometime between 1942 and 1961. It was built incorporating portions of a circa 1900 carriage. No other building within the Kentlands Old Farm is more closely identified with Otis Beall Kent-era of ownership, which lasted from 1942 to 1972. The Firehouse was built to house his fire engine collection/fully-equipped fire department, serve as a dormitory for farm workers, and the basement was constructed to act as a fallout shelter in case of war, complete with emergency well.

The HDC recommended designation of the Kentlands Firehouse as a historic resource based on criteria outlined in § 24-226 of the City of Gaithersburg Code of Ordinances.

Acting in accordance with the HDC's directive staff initiated a historic designation application for the Kentlands Firehouse following the HDC meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2011. On February 1, 2012, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of HD-34.  This recommendation (Exhibit 22), along with the HDC's recommendation (Exhibit 18) for designation, will be forwarded to the Mayor and City Council for their review and policy discussion on February 21, 2012.

Further information on this application may be obtained from the Planning and Code Administration, which is located within City Hall, 31 South Summit Avenue, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please contact the Planning and Code Administration at 301-258-6330 should have you any questions and/or to learn more about this process and your ability to offer testimony and input.

Kentlands Firehouse RFP Committee:

At the June 6, 2011 Mayor and City Council meeting, staff was asked to gather information in regard to stabilizing the Kentlands Firehouse in advance of issuing a Request For Proposal (RFP) to parties interested in renovating the structure.

It was subsequently determined that formation of a Kentlands Firehouse RFP Committee would assist City staff in developing the Request for Proposal (RFP) document, which is intended to solicit qualified adaptive reuse and/or redevelopment proposals for the City-owned Kentlands Firehouse property.

The charge of this committee would include :

• Review information collected to date relating to the existing conditions at the site
  
  
• Assess the building's potential as an adaptive reuse project and the site's potential as a redevelopment parcel
  
  
• Develop a non-exclusive list of viable, cost-effective potential uses for the building and/or site, including adaptive re-use and re-development uses, that are consistent with the limitations (architectural, zoning, access, parking, etc.) of the site and the surrounding community
  
  
• Identify major factors to be utilized in the final RFP document to guide prospective respondents' submittals It is anticipated that the Kentlands Firehouse RFP Committee will complete its work by the end of May, 2012.