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RED BRICK HOTEL — NO WHITE PLASTER
Phil Hoon’s letter to the Spy two weeks ago got a lot of people thinking. He was one of the heroes in the fight to keep Walmart out, and save downtown Chestertown.
Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown
RED BRICK HOTEL — NO WHITE PLASTER
Phil Hoon’s letter to the Spy two weeks ago got a lot of people thinking. He was one of the heroes in the fight to keep Walmart out, and save downtown Chestertown.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Armed and supplied by United States taxpayers, Israel is killing thousands of civilians in Gaza while Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is bent out of shape by three university presidents’ responses to her shallow yes-no questions about the First Amendment and campus anti-
semitism.
In other words, as the relentless bombing and street fighting in Gaza continues, the humanitarian crisis deepens, and the U.S. vetoes a U.N. Security Council’s vote for a cease fire, Ms. Stefanik and her GOP colleagues muster and focus faux outrage on campus speeches about imaginary genocide.
Which planet does the GOP occupy?
Gren Whitman
Rock Hall
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
My husband and I attended our first Chestertown Historic District Commission (HDC) meeting on 12/6. We were not seeking project approval but had been alerted to a significant “new construction” project on the agenda. I found out about it via a circulated email documenting details of this approval request first introduced at the September HDC meeting and subsequently re-submitted in November. I want to be clear that our attendance was not based upon an aversion to new construction since other such buildings are located within the Historic District and blend in nicely. We are not resistant to growth or change because they are part of any town’s life. That being said, constructions and changes need to be congruent with the historic character of Chestertown. I had enough information to be concerned that the last condition was not being met.
Attendance was standing room only with interested parties spilling out into the Town Hall lobby. Clearly the word was out about this proposed controversial project. After building alteration requests on the agenda were reviewed efficiently, the meeting focused on the proposal for the large new home. The tone of the meeting immediately changed. In consideration of what was to come, it progressed less smoothly and became contentious as times. There were challenges to the time limits for public comments before the Commission, the lack of public notification on the project and reminders of the roles and responsibilities of HDC members (which I am sure they already knew). Clearly, these issues were evidence of strong concerns relative to the night’s star topic.
First to speak was Christopher Frank, AIA, the Architect representing the Batchiks of Columbia, Maryland, who wish to build the house. His role was to address size and appearance concerns cited earlier and to justify the scale, style and impact on the “rhythm” of our Historic District (better understood by most of us as characteristic patterns, appropriateness or fit). Early on, Mr. Frank understandably denied the label “MacMansion” that had become attached to his project. What it was called wasn’t important to my husband and I but it certainly seemed that “country manse”, “dream estate” and similar terms might be applied. Fortunately, Thomas Kocubinski, RA, AIA, an experienced Architect in Chestertown, had taken considerable time to submit a detailed analysis of these building plans for the lot next to the old Police Station (which Sultana now uses for crew housing) and across from the train depot on Route 289 (Cross Street), along with other tracts appended to the site, such as one enabling an additional entrance from Queen Street. Mr. Frank’s designs incorporate: a house (somewhere around a 6,000+ sq. ft. to almost 8,000 sq. ft. footprint, depending upon who was speaking); pool with pool house; large private “parking court” area; garage; circular driveway off of Route 289 and a large back yard that extends to the rear far enough to run behind Sumner Hall on Queen Street with another segment reaching out even further in the Cannon Street direction. Mr. Kocubinski compared the home’s scope to the Wicke’s house, Widehall and Hynson Ringgold historic buildings. This proposed construction is both wider at the street and contains larger internal area than each of those three. It dwarfs typical examples cited along Queen Street and even a 3-family residence on Cannon. The architectural design bears no resemblance to other homes in the area. The Historic District would contain a modern residence with no relationship to colonial architecture. Mr. Kocubinski politely asked the Mr. Frank if he had walked around the town and his answer was affirmative. With this exposure to the town in mind, black or sand-colored bricks were proposed for accents before the HDC commented that red brick was appropriate. In response to the design’s lack of fit with its other dwellings in the Historic District, a solution of planting greenery along the property’s perimeter was offered as shield for its presence from neighbors and the roads. Considering this is a two-story structure containing an attic, and a large circular driveway along Route 289, that seems unlikely as an effective remedy. In addition, plantings typically need years to mature to two-story screening height.
Attendees who signed up to comment were allotted 3 minutes each to state their cases as per HDC protocol. While there were, admittedly, a couple speakers that thought such new construction was part of change or perhaps the greenery would lessen the impact, the vast majority of attendees disagreed. My husband and I found ourselves siding with the majority of those present. First, Mr. Frank should be congratulated on his design skills and we appreciate the time he had taken to adjust heights, windows and other aspects of an otherwise attractive home, but the overall effect remains the same — the scope and style are misplaced. The house cries for a larger setting outside of the town where it would blend with the countryside and not stick out as an anomaly or “big fish in a small pond” as the saying goes. Second, it is so large that it dwarfs everything around and thus appears ostentatious. Third, it will, ironically, be in the area of the town where the black community once prevailed so it flaunts the history of the modest homes once part of that heritage. Unfortunately, it will also likely be the talk of the town for a long time to come – and not on a positive basis.
I love Chestertown as a “come here” of 15-years and value its colonial charm. I was proud when we were able to defeat Walmart’s plans to build here because of its reputation for making wastelands of lovely, small town main streets such as ours. Maybe it is time for us to come together again.
Let me emphasize the NO APPROVAL HAS YET BEEN GIVEN. Mr. Frank is returning to his clients to share what he heard. The outcome of those discussions might be aired at the next meeting of the HDC. Let’s make sure that we check the agenda and attend when this project is listed. We don’t want to be surprised again. The Historic District Commission normally meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the Town Hall. Meeting minutes and the plans referenced here can be reviewed at: townofchestertown.com/government/committees/historic-district-commission or by simply searching “Chestertown Historic District Commission”. The project title is “206 Cannon Street”.
The HDC needs well-reasoned responses from the community. This is not an easy case for them to resolve since the Batchiks appear to have significant financial resources at their disposal due to the original 14,000 SQ. FT PLANS (per an account of the original proposal that I received). We, on the other hand, have the advantage of citizens with commitments to preserve the qualities that define why WE live here and what we love about Chestertown.
Carol F. Nelson
Chestertown
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I find the application for 206 Cannon Street to be inappropriate with the immediate neighborhood and believe the proposed development will degrade the Historic District at this end of town. It is completely incongruent with the intimate and historic character of the residential neighborhood. The proposed 8,000 square foot house qualifies as an estate house insensitively imposed on a humble, yet highly historically significant, neighborhood where houses average about 1,800 square feet. The site layout with various features further distances the development from the prevailing residential context and in tandem with the house design, would establish a harmful precedent if the application is approved. The following details are presented to support these opinions.
Rhythm and Scale
The town is differentiated by groupings of residences which are readily identified by their bulk, height, window details and roof patterns. Exterior materials further define the groupings. For example, the houses on Water Street are primarily large, stately with complex roof patterns, large windows and many are brick. While the houses on Cannon and Queen are small, modest with simple roofs, smaller windows, and exteriors of clapboard siding. This I call rhythm and scale. The proposed house design violates the rhythm and scale of the immediate neighborhood which was established decades ago. I note that even the newly built residences on South Queen Street respect the existing rhythm and scale. The distinguishing architectural vernacular of the neighborhood is dismissed and disrespected in the proposed house design. I further add that the proposed complex roof pattern, window themes and use of brick for veneering is not congruent with houses in the immediate neighborhood. These proposed elements are out of context.
Bulk Size – Square Footage
At the last meeting, resident Nancy McGuire asked the architect for the square footage of the proposed house and after much goading, she was told that it was approximately 6,200 square feet with 4,415 square feet on the main floor. She countered that Widehall is 7,440 square feet for comparison and is located on Water Street with its larger homes. However, I did an area takeoff of the filed design plans[1] and calculated an area of approximately 7,870 square feet! If you include the area of covered porches, the number swells to over 8,000 square feet. In comparison, the average dwelling size on South Queen and Cannon Streets is substantially much less – based on evaluation of 16 South Queen Street houses, the average is 1,747 square feet. Therefore, the bulk of the house is grossly oversized in the neighborhood by a factor of 4.5 to 1, not including the porch square footage. There is NO proximate precedent to support the house design. If built, it would visually destabilize the established ambience of the Historic District at this end of town and would obliterate the intimate historic sense of place. Comments were made by the HDC to this effect at either the August or September HDC meeting which were obviously disregarded by the applicant. The applicant is entitled to design to the limit of the zone, however, that should not allow the destabilization of the Historic District in doing so. It is a matter of applying sensitive contextual design themes in the design process. It is in your purview to require an applicant to accommodate the Historic District rather than sacrificing the District to accommodate the applicant.
Length of Front Façade
The overall length of the proposed front façade[2] is 100 feet. For comparison, Widehall’s front facade is approximately 72 feet, the Hynson Ringgold house is 50 feet, and the Wickes house is 78 feet. These buildings visually set the upward limit of the statelier houses of the southerly Historic District. For further comparison, the width of houses on Cannon and Queen Streets range from 17 feet to 32 feet, with an average being about 24 feet. Based on this analysis, it is obvious that the proposed house length is grossly out of place and egregiously overwhelms the houses within the historic neighborhood by a factor of 3 – 6 to 1! The proportionality of the proposed house seriously fails to address the well-established historic context.
Length of Side Façade
It is common for houses in town, dictated by narrow lots, to have deep side facades due to rear yard additions. However, they are rarely noticeable due to the proximity of adjacent houses that effectively block the view. This is not the case with the proposed house design. The impact of the 77-foot-long side façade[3] is not mitigated by adjacent houses and is therefore wide open to prominent views. In combination with the 100-foot-long front facade, the visual bulk of the house from a street perspective is enormous compared to the much smaller adjacent houses.
Roof Height and Pattern
The proposed roof height per the façade drawings is 34 feet. For comparison, the roof height at 203 South Queen, a 2-story residence, is about 30 feet, possibly the highest on the block. However, the front façade is only 22 feet wide, thus creating a pleasing intimate Victorian proportion. Due to its wide walls, the gabled facades of the proposed house tend to be squat and not as pleasing. I add that most roofs in the neighborhood are double pitched with ridges running front to back, effectively lessening the visual roof impact from the street. This is not the case with the proposed house with the roof design running parallel to both Cross and Cannon Streets. Roof heights and orientation matter, particularly when combined with the impact of overall building bulk. Due to its design and square footage, the house has an immense 70-foot-long main roof ridge[4] at a pitch of 12:14 which would be very visually impactful and completely out of place when viewed from Cannon. Put in context, the fronts of 3 to 4 houses on South Queen could fit within the proposed roof ridge length! The prominent shed dormer roofs facing Cannon do not exist in the neighborhood. The expansive front and rear porch roofs further serve to exacerbate the visual impact. Without doubt, the proposed roof pattern is very much out of character with the adjacent roof patterns and will overwhelm the neighborhood, thus creating a disturbing scale discrepancy.
Window Fenestrations
The scale, window to wall relationship, style and size discrepancies of the proposed fenestrations violate the predominate theme of the neighborhood. The window compositions are much more akin to a commercial building or a country estate house. The Design Standards are commendable relating to windows in the Historic District and I request application of the recommendations. The large 2-story corner window at the southwest corner of the front façade is the most egregious affectation, prompting comments at the last HDC meeting.
Outbuildings
The drawings[5] include 2 outbuildings for a studio and storage shed, both at 16 feet by 17 feet 8 inches. These buildings have a single pitch shed roof with a contemporary design influence. To my knowledge, the HDC has not provided review comments for these structures. Outbuildings in old towns contribute to the fabric, scale, and interest. They contribute significantly to the Chestertown Historic District and the proposed outbuildings should be no exception. I request review for suitability as they do not conform with the district outbuilding themes.
Site Plan Layout
The site development plan[6] includes a circular drive off Cross Street, the 2 outbuildings, a 40 foot by 68-foot parking court for a 2-car garage which is accessed by 2 drives (at Cross and Cannon Streets), 3 curb cuts and a 16 by 32-foot swimming pool. The overall scale and composition mimic that typically found on a large land parcel in the county, not in town. It is out of character with the intimate ambience of the neighborhood and this section of the Historic District. The visual image is that of a plantation house overwhelming more modest buildings, which in this case are the houses on Queen and Cannon Streets. The envisioned infill housing drawing[7] presented at the last HDC meeting only furthers to worsen this image with the increased imbalance it would create. I add that the property is divided into two zones, commercial and residential, and for some reason, the applicant has chosen to relate the house design to the commercial scale. Since this is a single-family residence, not a business, I find it totally inappropriate. The immediate residences should be reflected, and property owners respected, not the adjacent commercial structures. I add that the proposed house design could be easily mistaken for a commercial use building because it is that out of balance with the residential rhythm and scale. Even if a commercial building were proposed, I would design it to be properly proportioned and scaled relating to the immediate neighborhood – it is that important in my view.
Circular Driveway
At the previous meeting when questioning the circular drive on Cross Street, Nancy McGuire was told by the architect that the highway department had already approved the curb cuts for the drive, as if this was the final say in the matter. I note that the highway department was not responsible for the layout of Chestertown and that there is NO historic precedent for a circular driveway in the Historic District. An exception may be Widehall where a roundabout drive is in the rear yard behind a high brick privacy fence. I view the prominent circular drive as another affectation which is more appropriate in the county on a large land parcel. That is where it belongs, not here in town. In deference to the architect’s view, the final say belongs to the Commission and not the highway department.
In closing, as someone who deeply cares about the town and its future, I respectfully request consideration of these observations. I further ask that the applicant’s design before the Commission be returned for a redesign that is harmonious and respectful of the historic context. There is ample property for a reconfigured design and the town deserves all efforts to establish the correct precedent. Requiring a redesign is within your purview per the provisions of the Historic Area Zoning Ordinance, Paragraph 93-12, due to serious impairment of the surrounding area by the proposed development. I further add that the Historic District cannot fend for itself. It solely relies on your due diligence and thoughtful application of the regulations that guide you.
Thomas Kocubinski, RA, AIA
Chestertown
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I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of utmost importance – the urgent need for faster internet services in our community.This has been a matter of contention for some time, and although promises were made years ago, there has been no apparent movement to a resolution to this vital deficit in our town’s infrastructure.
As it stands, our only available internet service provider in Downtown Chestertown offers a maximum speed of 250 megabits per second (mbps). In an era where reliable and high-speed internet is a fundamental requirement for both residents and businesses alike, this limitation puts us at a significant disadvantage.
The demand for faster internet services has become increasingly apparent with the growing reliance on digital communication, remote work, online education, and the overall expansion of the technology-driven landscape. Unfortunately, our current infrastructure falls short in meeting these evolving needs.
I understand the challenges posed by the existing utility lines in Downtown Chestertown, which prevent the installation of high-speed fiber optic cables underground. However, I believe that the time has come for our town council and Mayor to prioritize the enhancement of internet services for the greater benefit of our community.
I propose that the town explores alternative solutions, such as above-ground fiber optic installations or other advanced technologies, to achieve a minimum internet speed of 500 mbps. A faster and more reliable internet connection will not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also play a crucial role in boosting the competitiveness and productivity of local businesses.
In light of these considerations, I kindly request that the town council and Mayor take immediate action to make high-speed internet a top priority for Downtown Chestertown. I believe that investing in modern and robust internet infrastructure will contribute significantly to the growth and prosperity of our community.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to positive developments that will benefit all residents and businesses in Downtown Chestertown.
Melissa McGlynn
Chestertown
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Ten years ago, I was discussing strategies for marketing events with another business owner, and she said,”Our biggest competition is people’s couches.” This struck me as true back then, but more so now. The convenience of online shopping from the comfort of your couch is tempting. Streaming services offer easy entertainment. As an artist, I understand enjoying leisure time at home and creative hobbies that keep you busy. But as a business person, I need to encourage everyone to consider that when you consider shopping, it is better to leave the house! Have you considered the impact that effort has on your community? Let’s dive into why getting off that couch and hitting up local businesses matter!
Boosting the Local Economy:
Small businesses are truly job creating dynamos. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the United States. So, by supporting your local mom-and-pop shops, you’re supporting job creation in your community.
And here’s a mind-blowing stat: for every buck you spend at a local business, a whopping 67 cents stays in the local economy! Compare that to chain stores where only 43 cents sticks around. Your money packs a bigger punch when you keep it local, helping your community thrive and keeping the economic mojo alive.
Local businesses are the heart and soul of our community. Each small business brings character and diversity. Vibrant downtowns fueled by the creativity of business owners contribute to the mosaic of our community and fights the dull sameness of big box stores. Small businesses are alive and provide energy and customer service that cannot be replicated online.
Building Community Vibes:
Shopping locally isn’t just about consuming products; it’s about people. An active downtown helps us maintain relationships with the people who share the world around us. When you choose local, you’re not just buying a product; you’re building relationships. You get to know the faces behind the counter, folks shopping around town, and learn about upcoming events and initiatives. There’s an eco-friendly result as shopping at small businesses often mean shorter trips for products, and that equals a smaller carbon footprint. Plus, they’re more likely to source locally, sharing the fiscal benefits with other business members of the community.
Why Art Matters:
Art galleries and art events play an important role in our society; holding social, culture, economic innovation to our downtown. Galleries draw visitors which generates jobs and stimulates local economies through consumer spending and tourism. Advertising, graphic arts and supporting local arts initiatives are all part of the industry.
Get off the Couch:
This holiday season, go downtown and enjoy the holiday markets, pictures with Santa, and horse drawn carriage rides. Peruse local businesses to find something that is “just right.” Consider gift certificates for services and classes. And bump into the neighbor you haven’t seen in a while. Cheer for your friends and family in the local parade. Share a hot chocolate and walk around town to soak up the festive decorations. We have the idyllic small town of Easton right outside of our doors, step outside and enjoy the wonders of this season in our community in real time.
Jennifer Wagner
Talbot County
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As a child who grew up in an 1840’s farmhouse in Cecil County, I am intimately familiar with home repairs. Over the years, termite damage, leaks in the roof, and tree roots growing into the foundation made for regular challenges. Because we didn’t have money to pay for repairs, most of the work was done by my four brothers or occasionally by friends and neighbors. I would also help by climbing ladders to help with roof repairs, or fixing ripped carpets, or caulking windows. I had all kinds of tools in my hands from my early teenage years.
When I got married, my husband and I bought the quintessential money pit of an old house. And over the five years we lived there, we rebuilt most of the inside including tearing out plaster and lath then insulating and rewiring the electric before putting up new drywall. We took the kitchen down to the studs and replaced everything. While doing all this renovation ourselves, we built up a cache of tools, knowledge, and confidence. This was all before the instant access to DIY videos on YouTube; we went old school and used Fix-it books.
We moved to Chestertown after we retired in 2017. After renovating our current home, I found myself finally able to volunteer to help others. I found Rebuilding Together Kent County (RTKC), was invited to join the board, and also began to help on job sites. I was attracted to their overarching mission of Repairing Homes, Revitalizing Communities, and Rebuilding Lives. We provide critical home repairs to keep people warm, safe and dry which seems so basic but many people in our community don’t have this.
When I first joined, we were an all- volunteer work group with a part- time administrator and a six- member board of directors. In 2018, RTKC successfully applied for a four-year grant from HUD specifically for capacity building. This money was a game changer and RTKC grew significantly in the number and type of jobs we did for our neighbors in need. Some of our current jobs have been large, such as roof and floor replacements or building ramps.Others are smaller in scale such as replacing a few rotten boards on steps, installing grab bars, or fixing clogged or leaky sinks. Some of these critical home repairs require us to hire contractors but many are done by volunteers.
From my position as the Chair of the Volunteer Committee, it was obvious we needed to increase our volunteer pool. We declared 2023 as “The Year of the Volunteer” and had several events and sessions to train project leaders, general volunteers, project site supervisors, material managers, and food providers. Our volunteer pool grew from a couple dozen regular volunteers to about 65 volunteers. This allowed us to complete 49 repairs without contractors and over 700 hours have been donated across the organization’s efforts.
While this growth is extremely positive, there is room for more willing people! We currently have homeowners who are approved for service but are waiting as RTKC seeks more project leaders, site safety supervisors, and other volunteers. The need for assistance with home repairs in Kent County is extensive. I would like to encourage people of all interest and skill levels to volunteer with us. Save the date for our nation’s National Day of Service of January 15th which is Martin Luther King Day. We will be having informational program on ways for YOU to become a Rebuilder and help our neighbors in need. For more information, please call at 410-778-4544, or online at [email protected] any time to find out more! Help RTKC celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2024!
Pam Vogel
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As if the status of the Armory and 98 Cannon are not enough to keep people on edge, I am going to add another item to the list.
Chestertown is the recipient of a large number of sculptures, to be sprinkled around the community, under the auspices of the Chestertown Public Art Committee, which answers to the Town Council. Many citizens have noticed the expanding number of additions to the streetscape of our historic town, and reviews are mixed. Home to a vibrant and varied arts community, for which we are all grateful, it appears that any location selected is acceptable to the Town.
I am going out on a limb and saying it may be necessary to reconsider the placement of such art in Fountain Park, our town’s centerpiece. This park has been a feature for over 100 years, and has benefitted from ongoing cooperation between the Town and Chestertown Garden Club. I recently learned that one of the art works, described as “resembling the head of a character in The Mandalorian” and the same color as our beloved fountain, sitting on a pedestal, will find a new home in Fountain Park.
Yes, it is a public space. Yes, the Victorians collected follies and sculptures. But the head of an alien is hardly in character with the space and should not find a home there. Perhaps it would look well in front of the Visitor’s Center, a more readily visible location. Or centered in the roundabout by Royal Farms at the south end of High Street.
I ask the Town Council to reconsider this particular item placed in this particular space. Further that the Council request that the Public Arts Committee look at the collection to find a more suitable piece, if Fountain Park is indeed to host one of these sculptures.
Sincerely,
Karen Paul Mack
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With no forensic evidence that he had fired a rifle at 12:30 p.m. on November 22, 1963, and in police custody, Lee Harvey Oswald shouted to reporters, “I’m just a patsy!”
Ten months later, the Warren Commission’s conclusion — that acting alone, Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy — was dubious. Even as the commission insisted it was correct, three members disagreed. On the phone with his pal President Lyndon Johnson, Georgia Sen. Richard Russell, a commission member, said, “I don’t believe it.” LBJ replied, “I don’t either.”
Though embraced by attorney Arlen Specter, the commission’s assistant counsel, the “single-bullet theory” — which anchored the commission’s verdict — was nonsense. Reinforced by medical and ballistic evidence, a frame-by-frame analysis of Abraham Zapruder’s 8-mm home movie rebuts Specter’s magic-bullet flimflam and repudiates the commission’s core finding that Oswald was the lone assassin.
So, what really happened? If not Oswald alone, who else? Who decided to have JFK killed, and why? Who orchestrated the assassination? In view of Zapruder’s film — in particular, Frame No. 313, in which JFK’s head rockets back after exploding — who fired the fatal shot? From where? How to account for the ample reports of gunshots, the odor of gun smoke, and smoke itself near the wooden fence on Dealey Plaza’s Grassy Knoll?
Based on acoustical analysis in 1976, the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded that Kennedy was likely shot in his head by a rifleman from behind the wooden fence on the Grassy Knoll and that at least two gunmen were involved. The Justice Department, however, failed to open another investigation.
Before he was killed in Dallas, Jack Kennedy was beginning to back the United States out of Vietnam, resolve the standoff with Cuba, and reduce the U.S. and Soviet Union’s respective stockpiles of nuclear weapons. He was in backdoor communication with the U.S.S.R.’s Premier Nikita Khrushchev on how to terminate the Cold War. His bold initiatives were challenges to powerful financial and political interests in the U.S.
Speculations about who killed JFK and how and why lead mostly to a collection of dead-end rabbit holes. They variously point to a shadowy cabal in New Orleans, the Central Intelligence Agency, a nebulous right-wing “deep-state” within the U.S. government, Ike’s “military-industrial complex,” the U.S. Secret Service, Cuban expatriates, the Mafia, LBJ, George H.W. Bush, Castro’s government, the Soviets, the Federal Reserve, and the Israelis. Consensus among assassination experts leans toward the CIA conspiring with anti-Castro Cubans.
But we don’t know.
In 2017, a Washington Post reporter observed that “42 groups, 82 assassins, and 214 people” have been named as being involved in JFK’s murder, and 60 years after his violent death, the basic questions — Who? How? Why? — are not settled. Until there are credible answers, suspicion will tarnish our nation’s history and November 22 will remain a sad anniversary.
Gren Whitman
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I am writing as a Chestertown Historic District citizen, property owner and business owner for the past 40+ years.
This matter is, as it should be, a classic Chestertown debate based on the past, present and future . . . and no one is right or wrong. Instead, all opinions are valid and contribute to the discussion. There should be mutual respect, comity, and civility for the differences of perspective. Here are mine.
I support the idea for a new Chestertown hotel at the Armory property.
And among many others, I hope that the original 1931 Armory structure (a National Historic Register property) can be saved, but have no objection to the removal of the post-1931 additions to the structure assuming that the application satisfies its demanding burden of proof.
Precedent Effect. For better or worse, your decision will have a significant binding precedent effect on future demolition applications. So whatever you decide, the clarity of your decision will be a beacon for those decisions.
Penn Station Lesson. In 1910, a beautiful Beaux Arts Penn Station was built in New York City. In the early 1960’s, arguments emphasizing economic interests resulted in the demolition of the structure. That decision was soon lamented and fueled an aggressive preservation movement in the city that is vigorous to this day.
The Chestertown Armory was constructed 95 years ago. The Chestertown Historic District regulations were first enacted in the 1960’s. They were initiated, and fueled, to some extent by the Penn Station experience.
Those regulations repudiate economic interests as a reason for the demolition of structures which have been determined to be contributing to the Chestertown Historic District (which you have already unanimously determined for the Armory).
The Building. The Armory was a beautiful Art Deco brick structure (with period light fixtures and other details) when built in 1931. As shown on the attached postcard copy, it was a handsome and dignified edifice. It was painted white sometime thereafter, perhaps in the 1940’s or ˈ50’s.
But it is now unsightly and unkempt because of more than a decade of neglect. Perhaps its appearance would be improved by the removal of the two scraggly trees at the entrance, and removal of the white paint, together with a general and meaningful site cleanup.
The Centerville & Easton Armories. Similar armories were built in those towns during the same period as in Chestertown. They have been restored with their original unpainted brick façades. They look great and blend seamlessly into, and contribute to, those communities.
Conditions of Approval. The Historic District Commission is authorized to impose conditions on its approvals. In this case, if a partial demolition is approved, it would be reasonable for the applicant to be required to remove the white paint simultaneously with the demolition.
Independent Counsel. I have known the Mayor & Council attorney Chris Drummond for many years. He is a good attorney. But the Historic District Commission is a separate legal entity and should have independent counsel. That should be done to avoid possible conflicts of interest for him, and to eliminate that as an issue on an appeal of your decision.
[It is common for district governmental bodies to have separate legal counsel. In Kent County, the County Commissioners, Board of Appeals and Planning Commission all have separate lawyers. Tom Yeager is the attorney for the County Commissioners and Chris Drummond is the attorney for the Board of Appeals.]
In conclusion, as you know, and after all, your decision is one which is fundamentally a matter of the rule of law, and not of popular opinion or institutional convenience.
Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts.
Phil Hoon
Chestertown
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