Rockville Historic District Commission Meeting - June 18, 2026

The Rockville Historic District Commission (HDC) met on June 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM in the Mayor and Council Chambers. Chair Peter Fossilman led the meeting, joined by commissioners Seth Dembo, Michael Goldfinger, Anita Neil Powell, and Mercy Shengay. Acting City Attorney Cynthia Walder Walters, Principal Planner Megan Flick, and Comprehensive Planning Manager Katie Gerberis were also present. The meeting included committee reports, public comments, consent items, and a major discussion on the evaluation of significance for 24 Martins Lane.

Committee Organizational Reports

• Peerless Rockville (Nancy Picard): Over 100 guests attended the Glenview Mansion tour in May, marking the 100th anniversary of its 1926 renovation. The organization opened the Rockville 250 exhibit, exploring the city's growth from Revolutionary times to the present. Upcoming events include a Juneteenth lecture on June 20th and a talk on Revolutionary War soldiers on July 9th.
• Lincoln Park Historical Foundation (Commissioner Neil Powell): The 135th anniversary of Lincoln Park on May 30th included a parade and a preservation conference on preserving Black history. A joint event for the 250th anniversary of America and Montgomery County and 100 years of Black History is planned for September 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Hanele Quigley (President, Rockville Cemetery): Invited the commission to the 300th anniversary of Christ Episcopal Church at Rockville Cemetery on September 20th, featuring costumed reenactors of buried individuals.
• Magda Brown (Human Rights Commission): Expressed interest in collaboration between the Human Rights Commission and HDC.
• LaShane Crutchfield (20 Martins Lane): Urged the commission to recognize the deep historical and cultural significance of 24 Martins Lane as a cornerstone of the Crutchfield family legacy and Rockville's African American heritage, arguing that demolition would erase an irreplaceable link to that history.
• Wellington Crutchfield Jr. (22 Martins Lane): Corrected the record, stating the original Ross Powell homestead is at 22 Martins Lane (where he lives), and that 24 was built later by his great uncles. He emphasized the property's connection to the broader Hayti community, including a historic graveyard, and urged preservation even if only a wall remains.
• Hannah Lor Quigley (Glenora Hills resident, relative of historic Rockville families): Noted that the staff report acknowledged the property meets many historic guidelines but questioned the staff's recommendation against designation due to condition. She stated the family and historic community want the property saved, urging the commission to follow its own guidelines and find the property significant.
• Nancy Picard (Peerless Rockville): Argued that the property's neglect should not preclude historic designation for the parcel, as it meets all significance criteria (A, B, C, D) and is part of a larger Hayti Martins Lane community eligible for the National Register. She noted the structure retains some integrity as a late 19th-century homestead.
• Kevin Zoletsky (101 North Street, neighbor): Noted that his backyard abuts the property and described the Crutchfield family's use of the land for generations. He argued the entire property and its context should be designated historic, citing precedents like the post-fire designation of Chestnut Lodge, and urged protection for the living history of the kinship community.
• Bridget Donald Newton (former Mayor, 46-year resident): Requested denial of the staff recommendation and designation of the property as historic, stating the city must "walk the walk" on preserving African American history, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
• Jason Eukis (Pavilion Real Estate, on behalf of owner): Argued that the building cannot be repaired or restored due to complete structural failure (per an engineer's report), and that designation would preserve a danger, not history. He respectfully asked the commission to adopt the staff recommendation against designation.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve minutes from May 21, 2026, passed unanimously.
• COA 2026-354 (603 Edmondson Drive – Glenview Mansion): Approved for removal of approximately 20 dying/declining boxwoods, replacing with tall fescue sod. Found to meet Secretary of the Interior Standards #2 and Technical Guide #7. Vote: unanimous.
• COA 2026-358 (603 Edmondson Drive – Glenview Mansion): Approved for planting 17 American Hollies and 13 Red Buds as a landscaping screen. Found to meet Secretary of the Interior Standards #2 and Technical Guide #7. Vote: unanimous.

Key Outcomes

• Evaluation of Significance – 24 Martins Lane (Case 2026-331 EOS): After extensive public testimony, the commission made a motion to recommend historic designation for the property, finding that it meets historic significance criteria A, B, C, and D, and architectural/landscape criteria A. The motion passed 5-0 (Commissioner Goldfinger opposed). The recommendation will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and Mayor and Council for a final decision via a sectional map amendment.
• Discussion on Future Preservation Efforts: Commissioners discussed the need for a demolition by neglect ordinance (currently proposed in the zoning rewrite, adoption scheduled June 29th), a updated historic resources catalog (last updated ~2011), and increased funding for preservation incentives. Consensus to engage with Mayor and Council on these issues, potentially via a formal letter or presence at the June 29th hearing.
• Recognition of Retiring Staff: Commissioners and staff thanked and presented a gift to retiring Preservation Planner Sheila Bashiri, who served the city for 12 years.