Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

WELCOME
First State National Historical Park
Environmental Assessment
for the Rehabilitation of the Sheriffs House
The purpose of tonights open house is to present project information
to the public, identify important environmental and cultural resource
issues, and gather public input to help inform the rehabilitation and
reuse of the Sheriffs House.

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

Park Background
First State National Monument was established by Presidential
Proclamation on March 25, 2013 and consisted of three sites,
including those in historic New Castle. On December 19, 2014,
First State was declared a National Historical Park and expanded
to incorporate four additional sites.
The parks established purpose is to preserve, protect, and
interpret the nationally significant cultural and historic resources
that are associated with early Dutch, Swedish, and English
settlement of the Colony of Delaware and portions of the Colony
of Pennsylvania; and the role of Delaware in the birth of the
United States and as the first state to ratify the Constitution.
For more information, please visit the parks website at:
www.nps.gov/frst

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

Purpose and Need

The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the Sheriffs House for occupancy and suitable uses for
the property, possibly including park operations, a compatible lease option, or a combination thereof.
Rehabilitation will consider park and visitor needs, accessibility, capacity, resource preservation, and visitor
experience.
This project is needed because the Sheriffs House has remained vacant for a number of years and the
deteriorated condition of the building, particularly the interior, requires intervention and rehabilitation
to preserve the historic structure.
The Sheriffs House, constructed in 1857,
played a prominent role in historic New
Castle in the late 1800s when it served
as the location of the town jail and sheriff
residence. The building has a long history
of public use, including as a base for the
New Castle Club through the 1960s and
the headquarters for the New Castle
Police Department through the 1970s. A
compatible reuse is needed to continue
this long history of public use and to assist
in efforts to maintain and preserve the
historic character.

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

PROPOSED ACTION
What is a Proposed Action?
The proposed action is the initial National Park
Service proposal to address the purpose and need
for taking action. It represents one alternative
that will be considered during the Environmental
Assessment process. In addition to the proposed
action, the National Park Service will consider a noaction alternative, and any other alternatives that are
suggested during the scoping period, as appropriate.

Proposed Action for the Sheriffs House

Rehabilitation and Use Plan:
The National Park Service proposed action includes
the following elements: 1) Rehabilitation of the
Sheriffs House for use by the National Park Service
and others (through lease agreements); 2) Evaluation
of appropriate uses for the Sheriffs House including
park administrative, orientation, concession, and/
or interpretation and education uses; residential
uses; office space; and other community uses; and
3) Construction of an exterior ramp and interior
modifications to meet the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) standards.

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

EXISTING INTERIOR CONDITIONS IN NEED OF REHABILITATION

Extensive damage to plaster walls, fireplace mantle,

trim, and original flooring on first floor.

Unsafe flooring conditions and exposed piping on

first floor.

Holes in the former kitchen ceiling and damaged

walls and floors.

Damaged plaster walls and original flooring, nonhistoric lighting, and exposed wiring on first floor.

Extensive damage to plaster wall on second floor in

stair hall.

Original marble fireplace blocked and falling away

from wall (secured with duct tape).

Non-historic lighting, water damage at ceiling, holes

in plaster from previous fixtures.

Original fireplace in need of cleaning, hearth in

need of repointing, and damage to plaster wall.

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

EXISTING FIRST FLOOR PLAN

3,010 Gross Square Feet
Available for Lease

POSSIBLE NPS
SPACE
(273 NSF)

POSSIBLE NPS
SPACE
(352 NSF)

NOT TO SCALE

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

EXISTING SECOND FLOOR PLAN

2,550 Gross Square Feet
Available for Lease

NOT TO SCALE

Sheriffs House Rehabilitation Plan

Environmental Assessment

How to Comment

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
First State National Historical Park

Next Steps

You are welcome to provide comments in a number

of ways:

Fall/Winter
2015

We prefer that comments be submitted online at:

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sheriffshouse

Winter 2016

Complete a comment form and submit it in person

tonight.
If you do not have internet access, you can send
a written comment form or letter to:
Superintendent
First State National Historical Park
211 Delaware Street
New Castle, DE 19720

Please provide comments by

Monday, February 15, 2016.

Winter/Spring
2016
Summer 2016
Summer 2016

Summer/Fall
2016

Initiate Sheriffs House

Rehabilitation Environmental
Assessment
Public and Agency Scoping
Period
*WE ARE HERE*
Alternatives Development
Public Review of Sheriffs
House Rehabilitation
Analysis of Public Comments,
Preparation of Decision
Document
Announcement of Decision

*Items in blue represent opportunities

for public involvment.