Ellicott City Restoration Foundation, Inc.

Ellicott City Restoration Foundation History

The Ellicott City Restoration Foundation was formed in May 1980 upon the recommendation of the Ellicott City Advisory Committee to implement the broad policy and goals of the Murphy/Williams Plan. Our initial and basically only funding was provided at that time by Howard County Government.

The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit charitable corporation. It is a non-member organization managed by a Board of Directors, whose members are elected annually. Board members are all volunteers and include local business owners, residents and property owners as well as representatives from the Ellicott City Business Association and Historic Ellicott City, Inc.; anyone with an interest in the Ellicott City Historic District is welcome to sit on our board. We currently have one member who serves as a liaison from the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM in the Howard County Tourism Office meeting room which is in the basement of the former Post Office Building at 8267 Main Street. Meetings are open to the public.

The Foundation has in the past functioned as an umbrella group that addressed many of the issues affecting the historic district; this was done at the request of Howard County Government under the administration of Charles Ecker. Subsequent administrations have not utilized the Foundation in this capacity, however, we continue to maintain close and cooperative relations with the local government The Foundation’s charge since inception has been the historic preservation and the economic revitalization of the Ellicott City Historic District.

We were the “parent” of the Patapsco Heritage Greenway Committee( now the Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway, Inc.), a dedicated group of volunteers striving to create a greenway ultimately linking natural and historic areas along the Patapsco River from Sykesville to Baltimore City. The initial focus has been on the Ellicott City/Oella and Elkridge/Relay areas. This is a project that holds great potential for all of the regions in the corridor and especially Ellicott City by providing a new venue to attract and introduce the public to the wonders of our region while preserving the historical, cultural and environmental sites in the river valley.

Ellicott City Restoration Foundation, Inc.
Activities Since its Inception

• Provided low-interest financing for building improvements with a revolving loan fund.

• Provided free architectural design assistance to property owners through the Facade Improvement Program

• With the Design Assistance Program, provided a shoppers guide, a brochure, the Ellicott City logo and assistance with signage design.

• Offered assistance with applications for Federal and State Historic Preservation Tax Incentives available to owners of property in the historic district.

• Assisted the Historic District Commission with funding for architectural design for certain buildings.

• Identified and urged Howard County to purchase the property which is now parking Lot B between the railroad tracks and the Patapsco River.

• Formalized the parking area south of the B & O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station.

• Guided the planning and negotiated the acquisition of private property that resulted in the expansion and re-paving of what is now parking Lot D.

• Worked with Baltimore and Howard County officials and engineers and private property owners for the creation of a parking lot on the Oella side of the river to serve Ellicott City shoppers. (Lot A)

• Studied possible locations for deck parking, recommending that the County purchase the Talbott Lumber property as the best location to provide additional parking space in the downtown area (now Lot E).

• Funded, with matching State funds, façade design to replace buildings lost in the fire of 1984.

• Assisted owners of property destroyed in the 1984 fire by creating a property exchange which allowed access to the Tiber/Hudson for safety and aesthetic reasons; with grants from the State of Maryland created guidelines for use of this technique by other historic districts.

• Initiated the grant application for funds through the Inter Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the State which provided $167.000.00 in improvements to the bridge linking Baltimore and Howard Counties.

• Funded study to determine most needed streetscape improvements; coordinated with property owners and the county the paving of sidewalks with bricks.

• Initiated and negotiated the acquisition of land for the mini park at the lower end of Main Street (Tiber Park).

• Assisted Historic Ellicott City, Inc. with funding for the Merryman Street Log Cabin (Thomas Isaac Log Cabin) and the George Ellicott House.

• Funded a three month pilot program for a trolley shuttle to alleviate parking problems during peak shopping periods.

• Worked with the county for the establishment of the Parking Enforcement Program.

• Assisted in establishing a Visitors Information Center on the ground floor of the U. S. Post Office building and assisted with funding of weekend staff.

• Sponsored an environmental action program featuring clean-ups along the Tiber/Hudson River and water quality monitoring which earned the 1995 River Action Award from Maryland Save Our Streams.

• Established a program for attaching markers to historic buildings for identification and information to the public. The program failed to launch successfully and will now be restarted by Historic Ellicott City, Inc.

• Worked to secure additional trash cans for Main Street.

• Sponsored the EC 225 Celebration Gardens in and around the Ellicott City Historic District.

• Secured a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and worked in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Baltimore Gas & Electric to replace under story vegetation along the Tiber/Hudson watershed just outside the Ellicott City Historic District. This established a badge program for Eagle Scouts (HOWN Helping Our Wild Neighbors) that enhanced habitat for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly (Maryland’s state insect) and the Eastern Bluebird.

• We continue to Partner with the Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway, Inc. to maintain spring and fall cleanups in the Ellicott City Historic District.

• Worked with the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks to investigate the potential of a promenade along the Patapsco River at Parking Lot B. The Army Corps of Engineers created drawings depicting three possible scenarios. The project is on hold at this time but an Eagle Scout project with Howard County Recreation and Parks has managed to clear and clean the area along the Patapsco for visual improvement. Greenway cleanups and Rec. & Parks actions maintain the area.

• Maintained Tiber Park in the Ellicott City Historic District for eight years in conjunction with Historic Ellicott City, Inc.

• Along with Historic Ellicott City, Inc. gifted property at the north end of Parking Lot F to the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. The original plans called for the Foundation to erect a gazebo on the lot for future musical and community programs. The lots close proximity to Parking Lot F may mean it will be incorporated into a potential parking garage. Final decision on the gazebo will be made once the most recent garage study (2008/2009) is complete.

• Sponsored candidate’s forums for merchants, property owners, residents and workers in the historic district. Candidates for county executive and county council seat were asked to attend.

• Worked with the county government and BGE to have new “Old Style” streetlights installed along Main Street. Lights were subsequently installed on Parking Lot D as well. Request has been made to continue replacing lights throughout town with the new style.

• We sponsor the Ellicott City Historic District Photo Contest to draw attention the town and encourage people to visit. The contest is held in May and the winners are announced at a reception at the Howard County Historical Society on the first Friday in June. The reception opens a two month exhibit of all entries in the contest that year. Cash prizes are awarded in Adult and Junior categories.

• We sponsor the Annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest to attract visitors during the holidays. Winners are chosen in two categories, Judges Choice (chosen by a panel of judges) and People’s Choice (chosen by popular ballot). Those voting in the People’s Choice are automatically entered in a drawing for a gift certificate at the historic district business of their choice. Advertising prizes are generously donated by the Howard County Office of Tourism and Promotion and Patuxent Publishing.

• We have initiated a live greens decorating agenda for the historic district and coordinate with Howard County Recreation & Parks for installation & removal at specific locations. We are working to expand the “eye appeal” during the holidays by encouraging businesses with public viewing areas to add decorations and working with churches and public buildings on an illumination campaign.

• The Foundation now chooses a person of the year to honor individuals who have shown care, concern and dedication to the Ellicott City Historic District. This award is presented at the reception for the opening of our Photo Contest Exhibit at the Howard County Historical Society.

• The Foundation’s only source of income is an annual fundraiser called Mardi Gras Magnifique. This event has been held in partnership with Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant and the Howard County Office of Tourism and Promotion for its first years of development. They will continue to partner with us as we reach out to expand our event throughout town. Proceeds from our event benefit the Foundation and local historic sites. (50% remains with the Foundation for it’s own use and 50% is donated to a local historic site or program; recipients thus far have been the Howard County Historical Society and Emory United Methodist Church. Donations have also been made to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Hurricane Recovery Fund [to assist with restoration in the gulf coast region after hurricane Katrina] and the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Ashton Villa damaged in hurricane Ike).