In January 2019, Downtown Frederick Partnership announced two new grant programs to address the risk of fire in historic buildings – the Downtown Frederick Fire Suppression Incentive Program and the Attic Fire Separation Program.
As an outgrowth of the Partnership’s 2020 Strategic Plan and the Live Downtown Frederick goal of welcoming 335 new residents to Downtown Frederick by 2020, these programs are some of the first of their kind to address the known risk of fire damage in historic downtown environments.
* 2020 Update: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, untapped funds from the Attic Fire Separation Program were transitioned to support increased demand for the Partnership’s Mission: Interior grant program, funding interior building improvements for downtown businesses. Learn more about the 2020 Mission: Interior awards here.
The Downtown Frederick Fire Suppression Incentive Program addresses the high costs of installing sprinklers in smaller commercial/multi-family/mixed use buildings. These smaller buildings are disproportionately impacted by the cost of sprinkler installation, which may make it financially infeasible. Since properly sprinklered buildings increase personal safety and protect our historic and cultural heritage, the Partnership seeks to lessen this financial burden and increase the number of fire-protected buildings in Downtown Frederick.
• This grant program is for existing commercial, multi-family residential or mixed use buildings located in the Frederick Town Historic District that are > 50 years old
• Provides a grant of up to $15,000 for the connection between the interior sprinkler system and the City’s water main
Find the grant application, program eligibility, incentive details and more information about the Fire Suppression Incentive Program at downtownfrederick.org/incentives.
The Attic Fire Separation Program addresses a safety issue caused by gaps in the attic spaces between adjoining rowhomes. Any openings between connected attic spaces create an opportunity for fire to spread, seriously endangering personal safety as well as threatening the historic fabric of our downtown neighborhoods.
• This grant program is for existing rowhomes located in the Frederick Town Historic District that are > 50 years old
• Provides a grant of up to $1,000 to offset the costs of constructing and/or filling gaps in a fire barrier between adjoining rowhomes