In recent years conservation easements have gained national attention as a way to preserve forests and farmland. But many people are unfamiliar with preservation easements, which are designed to protect buildings, bridges and other man-made structures. A New Hampshire historical group has launched an effort to save more buildings using preservation easements. NHPR's Trish Anderton reports.
(amb: steps and voices)
THE PEARL IS AN 1850?S CHURCH TUCKED INTO A SMALL SIDE STREET ON THE NORTH END OF PORTSMOUTH. THE NAME SEEMS TO FIT ? THE PEARL IS A LITTLE HARD TO FIND, BUT ONCE SEE IT YOU KNOW IT?S SPECIAL. REVEREND MARGARET BRITTON IS THE PEARL?S OWNER.
23 26 (marg??) it has an energy, it does. An everything?s going to be all right and let?s celebrate because of it (laughs)
THAT ENERGY MAY COME FROM THE SOARING ARCHED WINDOWS ACCENTED WITH STAINED GLASS. PERHAPS IT?S THE CURVED WOODEN CHOIR LOFT RISING IN THE BACK.
12 213 then there?s wainscoting abt 4 ft up, dark, beautiful. And then theres large columns that fit right into the way the balconies go up.
BUT THE PEARL ISN?T JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE. IT?S ALSO RICH WITH HISTORY. THE PEARL WAS NEW HAMPSHIRE?S FIRST BLACK-OWNED CHURCH. VALERIE CUNNINGHAM IS THE FOUNDER OF PORTSMOUTH?S BLACK HISTORY TRAIL. SHE GREW UP ATTENDING SERVICES HERE. CUNNINGHAM ALSO RECALLS COMING TO THE CHURCH ONCE A YEAR TO COMMEMORATE THE END OF SLAVERY.
This was a tradn that on january first you?d come to the emancipation celebration at the church. And I even got to read the emancipation proclamation several times (laughs) with all those hard words.
THE CHURCH HAS ALSO HOSTED SOME FAMOUS VISITORS. WHILE DOING RESEARCH FOR THE TRAIL, CUNNINGHAM STUMBLED ACROSS A CHURCH BULLETIN FROM 1952. IT DESCRIBED A CELEBRATION OF THE CHURCH?S ANNIVERSARY.
18 140 and the keynote speaker of that event was martin luther king jr. . He was a student at BU and already had a nationall reputation in baptist circles and that?s why they had him. // but I also noticed the soloist with the choir was a young woman named coretta scott. That was the year before they were married.
IN THE 1970?S THE CONGREGATION DISBANDED, AND THE PEARL BECAME A FANCY RESTAURANT. WHEN THAT CLOSED, THE BUILDING FELL ON HARD TIMES. THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WENT OFF, CAUSING EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE. THE STEEPLE DEVELOPED LEAKS, COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM. WHEN MARGARET BRITTON BOUGHT IT AT AUCTION, SHE WAS THE ONLY BIDDER.
16 20 everybody else was afraid of it. // The day of the auction we were sitting here with buckets catching the water coming in from all around. And people were afraid of it.
BRITTON HAS REPAIRED SOME OF THE DAMAGE AND REFURBISHED THE INTERIOR. TODAY IT GLOWS WITH SOFT ROSE CARPETING. PLANTS CROWD THE BALCONIES. ON WEEKENDS, BRITTON OVERSEES NEW THOUGHT CHRISTIAN SERVICES, WEDDINGS, AND GOSPEL BRUNCHES. A GROUP OF SUPPORTERS IS RAISING MONEY TO REPAIR THE STEEPLE. BRITTON SAYS AT THE MOMENT, THINGS LOOK GOOD FOR THE PEARL. BUT SHE?S WORRIED ABOUT THE DECADES TO COME.
that?s why there?s such a push to restore it now so when I?m not here it?ll at least be handled.
BUT LIKE MANY BELOVED BUILDINGS, THE PEARL DOESN?T FALL INTO AN EASILY DEFINED CATEGORY FOR PRESERVATION PURPOSES. PETER MICHAUD IS WITH THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW ENGLAND ANTIQUITIES OR S-P-N-E-A.
17 10 Bldgs are imp, they give us a sense of commty and show us how commty develops over time. But not all bldgs are great as museums and not all bldgs sit in well preserved hist dists.
ENTER THE PRESERVATION EASEMENT. AN EASEMENT IS A CONTRACT THAT GIVES CONTROL OF CERTAIN FEATURES OF A BUILDING TO AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION. IN THE CASE OF THE PEARL, THOSE FEATURES MIGHT INCLUDE THE STEEPLE, THE FAÇDE, AND INTERIOR ELEMENTS LIKE THE BALCONIES, WINDOWS AND CEILING. THE ORGANIZATION THAT HOLDS THE EASEMENT, GENERALLY A NONPROFIT LIKE THE SPNEA, THEN HAS THE POWER TO PROTECT THOSE FEATURES. IT CAN EVEN TAKE CURRENT AND FUTURE OWNERS TO COURT. ON A MORE FRIENDLY NOTE, JENNIFER GOODMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE ADDS THE OVERSEEING GROUP WILL ALSO INSPECT THE PROPERTY REGULARLY AND HELP THE OWNERS MAINTAIN IT.
Theres a carrot and a stick in this type of pgm. the stick is the regulations and reeuirements. The carrot is that pres alliance wants to be a resource to those bldg owners, provide assistance over time.
OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, JUST ABOUT EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY HAS ADOPTED LAWS ALLOWING FOR PRESERVATION EASEMENTS. TOM MAYS OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION SAYS EASEMENTS ARE INCREASING IN POPULARITY, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY DON?T REQUIRE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT.
015 10 a lot of prop owners want to use easements bc they?d rather protect prop privately rather than have it be done by regulation. Tht?s an attractive tool for fighting sprawl where they may not favor regulation but want to preserve historic sites and open space
BUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF AN EASEMENT IS COMPLEX, AND EVEN SUPPORTERS SAY PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULDN?T ENTER INTO THEM LIGHTLY. BECAUSE BUYERS MIGHT BE WARY OF A PROPERTY WITH RESTRICTIONS, AN EASEMENT CAN DECREASE A PROPERTY?S VALUE. ON TOP OF THAT, OVERSEEING ORGANIZATIONS USUALLY WANT A DONATION TO PAY FOR ENFORCEMENT. BESIDES THE FINANCIAL ASPECT, SCOTT HOGAN, A LAWYER WITH BALDWIN, CALLEN, HOGAN AND KIDD IN CONCORD, SAYS A PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO DONATE THE EASEMENT TO THE RIGHT GROUP.
Often peole look for local org to give primary responsibility to, and the issue does arise, looking to the future stability of that org, are they going to be around in 50, 60 70 80 years.
THERE ARE FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO EASEMENTS. TAX BREAKS AND THE VALUE ADDED BY THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION CAN HELP OFFSET THE COSTS. IF PROPERLY FORMULATED AND PUT IN THE RIGHT HANDS, HOGAN SAYS, A PRESERVATION EASEMENT CAN BE A POWERFUL WEAPON FOR PROTECTING HISTORIC BUILDINGS. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESERVAITON ALLLIANCE AGREES. IT?S LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE EASEMENTS IN THE STATE. THE FIRST BUILDING PROTECTED UNDER THAT CAMPAIGN COULD BE THE PEARL OF PORTSMOUTH. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M.
