Historic District?
What Does That Mean?
Jim Gabbert
National Park Service, Washington, DC
Reminders
Historic District
vs.
Historic District
• Not all districts are the same!
 Local Designation
 National Register listing
Local Designation
• Typically a zoning ordinance
• Usually enacted with broad support and
consent of property owners
• As restrictive as desired by local community
• Local commission has review power
• Certified Local Government
Community Driven
• The community defines what is important and
worthy of preserving
• Boundaries for districts are defined by
– Local importance
– Local buy-in
• Controls are as strict as community wants
What is the process?
• Work through local elected officials and
government staff
• ALWAYS involve property owners!
• Determine extent of affected area
– Local community defines limits
• Have clear, reasonable guidelines
• Stick to them!
Positives/Negatives
• Control of significant aesthetic
elements
• Stabilization or possible positive
effect on property values
• Promotes sense of place
• Potential for resentment
• Potential for legal problems (if
review is capricious and arbitrary)
• “Preservation Nazis.”
National Register
of Historic Places
Districts
Buildings-Sites-Structures-Objects
Federal Program
Truman
Historic District,
Independence,
MO
What is a Historic District?
How to Complete the National Register Registration Form:
“A district possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or
continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united
historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development”
Also: “…a significant and distinguishable entity whose individual
components may lack distinction.” (Criterion C)
District applies to properties having:
•
•
A number of resources that are relatively equal in importance,
such as a neighborhood, commercial downtown, or college
campus
Large acreage with a variety of resources, such as a large farm,
state park, mountain valley, or parkway.
“A district possesses a significant
concentration, linkage, or continuity of
sites, buildings, structures, or objects
united historically or aesthetically by plan
or physical development”
• Significant
• United
When is a
district a
district and
not just a
collection of
old buildings?
Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, Oklahoma
Ask:
• What is the connection?
• Is it important?
• Main Street deals primarily with commercial
centers.
What are the steps?
• Know your resources
– Survey Your Buildings
Selecting Boundaries
Boundaries
• Select boundaries to encompass the
single area of land containing the
significant concentration of buildings,
sites, structures, and objects making
up the district. The district’s
significance and historic integrity
should help determine the boundaries.
– Ownership is not a justifiable basis
for leaving eligible properties out
Areas and Periods of
Significance
• Don’t conflate function with significance
– too often presence of a church or school
results in “religion” or “education” being added
as area of significance
• Critically analyze the true period of significance
– just using the “50 year rule” is not appropriate
– Continued use does not necessarily mean
continued importance
Historic Integrity
• For a district, of primary concern is the overall
integrity
• Contributing resources might have a lower
threshold than for individual eligibility
• Criterion and area of significance impacts
integrity evaluation
• Period of significance impacts integrity
evaluation
Boundaries
might not
coincide with
Main Street
service area or
locally
designated
district
Guthrie Historic District, Oklahoma
Process:
• Prepare the nomination
• Involve the public
• Submit to SHPO
• Involve public
• Review Committee
• Off to NPS
Effects of Listing
• Limited protection (Federal activities)
• Eligibility for incentives
– tax credits
– Grant programs
• Promotion and interpretation
Your New Best Friends
• City Preservation Office (Certified Local
Government)
– Process and guidance
• State Historic Preservation Office
– National Register
– Tax Credits
• Free Advice from both!
Thank you!
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