Group rules city farmhouse is historic
Gaithersburg's Historic Preservation Advisory Committee recommended historic designation for an 1877 farmhouse at the intersection of South Frederick and DeSellum avenues.
The two-story Victorian at 206 S. Frederick Ave. reflects an important and optimistic era in Gaithersburg's history, the committee ruled Thursday.
Dr. Robert J. Wilson Jr. plans to bring a 20,000 square foot medical office building to the corner, where his father, Robert J. Wilson Sr., owns five lots. The city dentist planned to preserve another Victorian farmhouse at 13 DeSellum Ave., and the historic Fulks House, which he hopes to rezone, renovate and use as an office building.
City planners have billed the Wilson project as a new entranceway to Olde Towne.
"It's just an opinion," Wilson said of the committee's decision. He vowed to continue pushing for his project.
Historic designation is decided by the mayor and council, who serve as the Historic District Commission. City leaders will decide in early June whether to deny concept plans and rezoning for Wilson's project. If the plans aren't approved, Wilson would have to rework his project.
The farmhou se must go, Wilson said, if city leaders want his project.
Historians have said the house could be moved or Wilson could shrink the size of the proposed medical office building.
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