Mooncrest Historic Overlay Advisory Committee Meeting

The Mooncrest Historic Overlay Advisory Committee, also called the Historical Architectural Review Board, met June 11 with five members present. The board approved the May 14 minutes. Members chose to use the long version of BoardDocs for future agendas. A committee member reported that Mooncrest Baptist Church is being sold and the seller is offering historic documents stored in the basement. The board agreed the township could accept the two or three boxes for the Jockers Memorial Archives Room. A representative of the Old Moon Township Historical Society presented an update and proposed MCA-TV productions on how Moon Township got its name and on centennial trees like the Polo Club white oak. A committee member announced a $12,500 Certified Local Government grant for a Mooncrest revitalization project that will evaluate strategies and develop a market analysis. She also announced the HARB is now a member of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. Under old business, the board discussed the Boggs School House project. Members supported restoring it as a community center with a teaching mural and shared parking. A committee member passed around a rough concept plan. She explained that if the state deems the school house historically significant, up to $50,000 in annual funding with matching requirements is available; if only locally significant, $15,000 in CLG grants annually. The original school house was built in 1854, burned down, and was rebuilt on the same foundation in 1898. The committee member hopes to start work in July or August. A committee member reported the Mooncrest booklet is progressing slowly. A committee member asked about holding future HARB meetings at other historic buildings; a committee member will discuss a fall meeting at Robin Hill with the Parks Director. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. The next meeting is July 9.