There is a variety of designations for historic assets within the field of historic preservation. In its own way, each designation defines what is historic and important and carries with it varying degrees of protection. The following list defines those designations.

STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES  
The State Register is an official listing of properties and sites important to the historical development of Connecticut. The criteria for inclusion are the same as for the National Register of Historic Places. All properties nominated to the National Register must first be placed on the State Register. There is no specific protection afforded properties listed on the State Register. In Greenwich there are five extant properties on the State Register that are not listed on the National Register.
www.cultureandtourism.org/history/ 

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Listing on the National Register draws attention to the historical significance of the building, object, district or road. While being on the list affords protection against certain federal interference, it does not by itself prohibit alterations or demolitions. There are 21 buildings, structures or roads and seven districts, each containing many contributing structures, on the National Register in Greenwich.
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/    

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK (NHL)
National Historic Landmark listing recognizes the country’s most important historic resources. The designation carries with it a very high degree of protection. The only NHL in Greenwich is the Bush-Holley House (c. 1730) in Cos Cob, site of Connecticut’s first art colony. One of the town’s oldest buildings, Bush-Holley House was purchased by The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich and opened to the public as a museum a year later in 1958. www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/LOCAL 

HISTORIC DISTRICT/PROPERTY
These districts and properties are locally designated and enjoy a high degree of protection. Once designated, no alterations can be made to the exterior without first applying for a “Certificate of Appropriateness” from the Historic District Commission. There are two Local Historic Districts in Greenwich, Strickland Road and Mill Pond Court in Cos Cob, and the intersection of Round Hill Road and John Street, and two local historic properties, 29 Taconic Road and 640 Round Hill Road. www.greenwichct.org

HISTORIC ZONES
Planning and Zoning may grant Historic Overlay, either Historic Residential/Office Zone (HRO) or Historic Overlay Zone (HO), or Façade Easement status to properties in Greenwich. The designations allow for zoning bonuses in exchange for a property owner’s agreement to preserve and protect a significant historic or architectural asset. After designation, any application for alteration to the historic structure must follow the same Certificate of Appropriateness procedure as buildings in Local Historic Districts do.
www.greenwichct.org

GREENWICH LANDMARKS REGISTRY
Established by The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, this program recognizes historically or architecturally significant buildings in Greenwich. Owners of eligible homes are invited to enroll in the program for a fee. The Historical Society conducts deed research, photographs the house and presents owners with a plaque. There are no restrictions or protections placed on the buildings in the program. As of 2007 there are over 260 buildings documented.
www.hstg.org

ORGANIZATIONS

There are several commissions and organizations involved in, and committed to, the process of protecting historic resources in the Town of Greenwich. They are listed below.

PLANNING & ZONING (P&Z)
Diane Fox – Town Planner
203-622-7894
P&Z is responsible for all zoning decisions in Greenwich and engages in planning for future development of the town. The commission consists of five volunteer members and three volunteer alternates who are nominated by the Selectmen and appointed by the RTM. The staff, led by Town Planner Diane Fox, handles zoning applications and develops regulations.

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION (HDC)
Fifi Sheridan - Chairman 
The HDC meets monthly and is comprised of five volunteer commissioners and five volunteer alternates who are nominated by the Selectmen and appointed by the RTM. The HDC’s primary responsibility is to monitor all activity in the Local Historic Districts and Properties and in Historic Zones. They rule on all “Certificate of Appropriateness” applications. In addition they serve as an advisory panel to P&Z when questions affecting historic buildings arise, particularly when those sites are in National Register Districts. Often HDC review is required as a part of an application to P&Z.ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC)
Cynthia Tyminski – P&Z Planner
203-622-7894

The ARC is an all volunteer 12-member committee nominated by the Planning and Zoning Commission. It is a standing sub-committee of P&Z. The ARC meets monthly to evaluate all applications for commercial projects and any residential projects of more than two units. They evaluate and comment on the proposed project’s scale, streetscape and architectural integrity. They also review signage, awnings, colors and lighting as well as building materials and landscapes.
 
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH (HSTG)
Debra Mecky – Executive Director
203-869-6899
Based at the Bush-Holley Historic Site in Cos Cob, HSTG is an independent not for profit organization, run by a professional staff and governed by a board of trustees. Its mission is to collect and preserve the cultural heritage and ongoing history of Greenwich and provide a center for its enjoyment and study. As well as being a resource for those seeking information about historic preservation, they sponsor the Signs of the Times program and coordinate the Preservation Network of Greenwich, a group of representatives from a variety of organizations that meets regularly to share information.

THE CONNECTICUT TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Helen Higgins – Executive Director
203-562-6312

The Connecticut Trust is a non-profit organization based in Hamden. Their mission is to preserve the character and ensure the vitality of Connecticut’s historically significant places. The Trust’s best tools are its traveling technical assistance program (email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and website (www.cttrust.org). The site, which is a clearinghouse of useful information, includes a section for realtors, “Restoration Services Directory” of contractors, architects, consultants and craftsmen, FAQs and much more.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Many organizations in town are also directly or indirectly involved with historic preservation. These include: Friends of Greenwich Point, garden clubs, Greenwich Clean & Green, Greenwich Point Conservancy, Let There Be Light, Merritt Parkway Conservancy and neighborhood associations.  
 

PROPERTIES
 

STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Bullis-Addington House (211 West Putnam Avenue)
Benedict Building at Greenwich Hospital 
Cos Cob Firehouse
Montgomery Pinetum Conservatory
O’Neill Outdoor Theater
Tomac Burying Ground NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Private Buildings

1 Byram Road (Thomas Lyon House)
Cos Cob Power Plant
1009 East Putnam Avenue (Samuel Ferris House)
Hawthorne Mill & Depot Building
524 Lake Avenue (French Farm)
124 Old Mill Road (Selleck Gristmill)
354 Riversville Road (Wilcox House)
Rosemary Hall (Japanese School)
YMCA of Greenwich

Municipal Buildings

Byram School
Glenville School (Western Greenwich Civic Center)
Great Captain Island Lighthouse
Greenwich Main Post Office
Old Town Hall

Churches

Methodist Episcopal Church (61 East Putnam Avenue)

Museums

Bush-Holley House
Putnam Cottage

Train Stations

Cos Cob Railroad Station
Sound Beach Railroad Station

Bridges

Mianus River Railroad Bridge
Riverside Avenue Bridge (over railroad tracks)

Roads

Merritt Parkway

Districts

Fourth Ward Historic District
Glenville Historic District
Greenwich Avenue Historic District
Greenwich Municipal Center
Putnam Hill Historic District
Round Hill Historic District
Strickland Road Historic District
 

LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS & PROPERTIES

640 Round Hill Road (Charles Green House)
Round Hill Road Historic District
Strickland Road Historic District
29 Taconic Road (Jeremiah Mead House)

HISTORIC OVERLAY ZONES

20 Arcadia Road – C
East Putnam Avenue at Robertson Lane – R / O
50 East Putnam Avenue (YMCA) – NP
271 East Putnam Avenue / Old Church Road (Zitell House) – R
154-156 Greenwich Avenue (rear) – C
Hemlock Drive – R
731 Lake Avenue (Daniel Reynolds House) – R
96 Maple Avenue – R / O
136 Maple Avenue – R
124-130 Mason Street – O / R
228-230 Mill Street – C / R
245 Mill Street (Old Firehouse) – O
9 Normandy Lane – R
1 Old Church Road – R
350 Pemberwick Road (The Mill & Depot) – C / O
Sherwood Avenue (Chieftans / Gimbels) – R
311 Sound Beach Avenue – R
Weaver Street at Barn Hill Road (Lyon Farm) – R
211 West Putnam Avenue (First Post Office) – R HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL / OFFICE ZONE (HRO)
183 East Putnam Avenue (The Columns) – O
523 East Putnam Avenue – O
30 Milbank Avenue - O
46 Milbank Avenue – R
211 River Road Extension – R
5 Salem Street – NP  

FAÇADE EASEMENT

63 Church Street
30 Field Point Road
32 Field Point Road
93 Mason Street