DHS Letter to Washington County Outlines Site Plan for Williamsport Warehouse

Although Radio Free Hub City has not yet heard back from Washington County Government regarding multiple Public Information Act requests regarding the letter sent to the County by DHS, we have obtained the letter sent to Planning and Zoning Department regarding the new processing facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) being planned for a 53.74-acre warehouse property located in Williamsport, Maryland. The initiative, which is subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, prompted consultation with local historic preservation authorities and federally recognized tribes. DHS has initiated this consultation process by notifying the Washington County Historic District Commission and has made a preliminary determination that no historic properties will be affected by the proposed undertaking. The letter categorizes the facility as a “processing” facility, and not a “detention” center.

According to the letter, provided to us by the mutual aid group Empathy+Action=Change, the proposed project involves the purchase, occupation, and rehabilitation of the existing warehouse, which was constructed in 2022. Planned improvements to the site are extensive and include upgrades to parking areas, fencing, site lighting, landscaping, drainage systems, and recreational areas. Additionally, security cameras and temporary structures such as tents and a guard shack may be installed. All proposed site improvements are expected to remain within the current property boundaries, and no construction will extend beyond the existing structure’s height. The work will be confined to the previously developed parcel.

Interior and exterior modifications to the warehouse are also part of the plan. Exterior enhancements could involve painting or sealing the building’s facade, altering or removing loading bays and windows, repairing or replacing roofing and cladding materials, and installing security equipment and access controls. Internally, the facility may undergo significant renovation or reconstruction to accommodate ICE’s operational needs. This could include the construction of holding and processing areas, office spaces, public visitor areas, and amenities such as cafeterias, restrooms, and healthcare facilities.

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The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this undertaking has been defined to include the subject property itself and any adjacent resources that may have a direct line of sight to the proposed work. The property is a modern industrial site, and adjacent industrial buildings date primarily from the 1990s and early 2000s. DHS has determined that these modern industrial resources do not meet the criteria for exceptional importance and are therefore considered ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

To the east and south of the proposed facility, several residences constructed between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s are located along Rauch and Hopewell Roads. While these properties have not undergone formal evaluation for NRHP eligibility, DHS has determined that they will have limited visibility to the proposed undertaking and that the project will not adversely affect their integrity or their potential for future inclusion on the NRHP.

Further investigation within the APE identified a historically significant property, designated as WA-I-368. This property consists of a two-story residence and associated farm complex, with the residence potentially dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century. Historical records suggest it may have been constructed around the 1790s, possibly during a period of regional agricultural growth, and was associated with the prominent Van Lear family, who also owned the NRHP-listed Mount Tammany residence. Despite its potential historical significance, the main residence of WA-I-368 has suffered severe structural damage, including a collapsed roof and porch, leading to a loss of integrity in its design, workmanship, setting, feeling, and association. Consequently, DHS has determined this structure to be ineligible for the NRHP.

The property also includes the foundation of a barn and a well-preserved stone springhouse, dating to approximately 1887. While the springhouse is in good condition, DHS has deferred a definitive assessment of its eligibility due to a lack of detailed information. It is suggested that the springhouse might be considered a contributing element if evaluated as part of a broader survey of masonry auxiliary resources in the county.

Crucially, DHS has concluded that the proposed ICE facility undertaking will not impact any remaining aspects of integrity of WA-I-368, irrespective of the springhouse’s eligibility status. Due to the extensive prior disturbance of the site for utilities, parking, and the original warehouse construction, and the anticipated shallow depth of any necessary ground disturbance for new installations like fence posts (not exceeding four feet), the potential for encountering intact archaeological resources is considered low. No further archaeological investigations are recommended. Based on these findings, DHS has determined that the undertaking will result in a finding of “No Historic Properties Affected.”

In accordance with regulatory requirements, DHS has invited the Hagerstown Planning Department, the Washington County Historic Preservation Commission, and federally recognized tribes, including the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma and the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, to participate in the consultation process. As of the date of the correspondence, no comments had been received from these invited parties. The Washington County Historic District Commission has been asked to provide any comments or concerns regarding the proposed undertaking and DHS’s findings within 30 calendar days of receipt of the notification.

The full letter sent to Washington County, digitally signed by Department of Homeland Security, is below.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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