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Usually cultural organizations come to the City looking for grant money, but the Norwalk Preservation Trust (NPT) broke new ground when it appeared before the Common Council at Tuesday night's meeting to give $20,000 it received from the State of Connecticut to establish a list of historic resources. The last time an historic inventory was done was 1979. According to NPT president Tod Bryant, the resource survey is important to municipal officials, planners, preservationists, property owners, developers, educators and researchers to help them make informed decisions about cultural events.
The money from the NPT will be combined with a city grant of the same amount to begin identifying buildings for possible inclusion on the list. The NPT web site lists criteria required for a building or structure to be included. The criteria includes significant contributions to the visual, architectural or historic value of the neighborhood. Historic resources provide character, continuity and a sense of place that adds value to present and future generations, according to Bryant.
Bryant said that historic preservation, such as what transpired in South Norwalk in the 1980s, promotes economic development because it generates tourism that supports local businesses. South Norwalk contains several National Register Historic Places and Landmarks, including the South Main and Washington Street Historic District and the Haviland, Elizabeth and Hanford Place Historic District.
