Welcome to the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions
The mission of the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions (MAHDC) is to provide advocacy, training and program support for historic preservation commissions and local governments across the state. Formed in 1979, MAHDC serves 47 Commissions, representing both urban and local historic districts, local governments, commissioners, residents and owners of historic properties. Our basic philosophy is that by working together, Maryland’s historic district commissions can help one another become more effective protectors of the historic resources in each of their own communities.
MAHDC Training Program
Over the past year, MAHDC has worked with our preservation partners to develop the first part of a two-tiered training and educational program for HPCs. We are pleased to report that the tutorial is now complete and can be accessed here. Read about the new program and download associated materials right from our site.
| MAHDC awarded grant from the Bartus Trew Providence Preservation Fund |
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We are pleased to announce that the MAHDC has been awarded a grant from the Bartus Trew Providence Preservation Fund through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The grant will enable MAHDC to develop and implement a Historic Preservation
Commission Training Program, geared toward Eastern Shore commissions and their staff.
This fall MAHDC will initiate an Historic Preservation Commission Training Program
for appointed members and staff of local preservation commissions on Maryland’s
Eastern Shore. The training program will be two-tiered and will include an on-line primer
and three workshops on law, ethics, and design review.
Through our outreach efforts, we have identified a need for training on a variety of
topics, from preservation basics to more advanced technical issues for commissioners
to perform their duties faithfully and capably. For this project, MAHDC will work
with the Maryland Historic Trust, Preservation Maryland, and the National Alliance
for Preservation Commissions (NAPC) to develop an on-line training course that will
introduce participants to key concepts, common terminology, and core principles of
preservation practice. Topics may include the legal basis for historic preservation,
significance and integrity, differences between the National Register and local
designation, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, etc.
The second prong of the training program will be the development of course materials
for more in-depth workshops focused on two areas of practice – Law and Ethics,
and Design Review. MAHDC is contracting with NAPC to develop the course
materials and on-site training to a number of individuals who will lead the workshops.
This grant will assist MAHDC in achieving one of its long-term goals – to develop
a framework for a comprehensive commission training and educational program.
Strengthening the quality of commission deliberations will encourage heritage protection
and will increase the public’s awareness of the value that a commission brings to a
community. Increasing the training opportunities for historic preservation commissions
will ultimately result in stronger boards, whose presence and influence among the
community and local governmental officials will increase.
The on-line training course is slated for completion next summer, and the on-site courses
are planned for Fall 2011. Stay tuned for more information about this great training
opportunity for our membership.
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