To: Howard Berger, Prince George's County Historic Preservation Supervisor
Historic Preservation Commission: Bring Educational and Economic Development to Hyattsville
Dear Historic Preservation Commissioners,
We must balance the importance of protecting truly historic properties with the need for innovative, beneficial community development. I’m hopeful that, working together, our community can do what’s best regarding 4800 Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville.
The run-down property is the perfect site for the proposed mixed-use project between Art Works Studio School and Pizzeria Paradiso. Art Works will continue its mission of engaging kids and families through art and taking art into underfunded schools. Pizzeria Paradiso will bring a nationally recognized restaurant to a county recently named a food desert.
Our community needs this development – which will spur on educational and economic prosperity in the Gateway Arts District. However, the project is currently in question because the building is next door to an historic property.
I ask that you consider the lack of true historic merit of this building, rule accordingly, and support thoughtful economic growth in our community. Don’t let this property continue to deteriorate into eventual demolition, when it could bring much-needed transformation to the Route 1 corridor. Make new history with us.
We must balance the importance of protecting truly historic properties with the need for innovative, beneficial community development. I’m hopeful that, working together, our community can do what’s best regarding 4800 Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville.
The run-down property is the perfect site for the proposed mixed-use project between Art Works Studio School and Pizzeria Paradiso. Art Works will continue its mission of engaging kids and families through art and taking art into underfunded schools. Pizzeria Paradiso will bring a nationally recognized restaurant to a county recently named a food desert.
Our community needs this development – which will spur on educational and economic prosperity in the Gateway Arts District. However, the project is currently in question because the building is next door to an historic property.
I ask that you consider the lack of true historic merit of this building, rule accordingly, and support thoughtful economic growth in our community. Don’t let this property continue to deteriorate into eventual demolition, when it could bring much-needed transformation to the Route 1 corridor. Make new history with us.
Why is this important?
Art Works Studio School and Art Works Now is an art education and social justice nonprofit that recently acquired 4800 Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville– with plans for a mixed-use project between Art Works and Pizzeria Paradiso. Recently, however, they found out that the property is eligible for historic site status. There is a hearing on December 17th to decide that status.
Our community is asking that this property not be designated historic. Art Works believes they do not have the financial resources to properly steward an historic site; and the nonprofit has shown great respect for the narrative of this property and pledges to do so in the future.
This issue came up because Art Works sought to add a small addition to the roof of the existing building to allow for a stairwell to replace the existing staircase that cannot be brought to code in its current location.
If the property is designated historic, there will not be room at this site for both partners to occupy the space. Without the partnership, Art Works will not be able to afford to continue with this project and the building will continue to be vacant.
Art Works has worked diligently with their architect to create a design that is sensitive to the existing building and its aesthetic.
Our community is asking that this property not be designated historic. Art Works believes they do not have the financial resources to properly steward an historic site; and the nonprofit has shown great respect for the narrative of this property and pledges to do so in the future.
This issue came up because Art Works sought to add a small addition to the roof of the existing building to allow for a stairwell to replace the existing staircase that cannot be brought to code in its current location.
If the property is designated historic, there will not be room at this site for both partners to occupy the space. Without the partnership, Art Works will not be able to afford to continue with this project and the building will continue to be vacant.
Art Works has worked diligently with their architect to create a design that is sensitive to the existing building and its aesthetic.