Historic Preservation September 18, 2008
Issues • • • • • • • •
What is Historic Preservation and its purpose? Basic Approaches to Historic Preservation Milestones in Preservation Legal Basis: Federal, State and local law Creation of HPC Membership, terms, responsibilities Historic District and Design Review Standards Activities of the HPC
What is historic preservation? Historic Preservation – an endeavor that seeks to preserve the ability of older (e.g., "historic") objects to communicate an intended meaning. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_preservation
www.brotherswar.com/Gettysburg-Day-3Pic-9.htm
Purpose To promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of Alabama municipalities Section 11-68-1, Alabama State Code
How purpose is accomplished • Through the preservation and protection of buildings, sites, structures, areas and districts of historic significance and interest; • Through the preservation and enhancement of the national, state and local historic, architectural, archaeological and aesthetic heritage found in Alabama; and • Through the promotion and enhancement of Alabama's historic and aesthetic attraction to tourists and visitors. Section 11-68-1, Alabama State Code
Basic approaches Documentation • • • •
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) Cultural Resources Geographical Information System Facility (CRGIS)
Basic approaches Designation of individual sites or resources
Basic approaches • Creation of Districts
Basic approaches Preservation Easements A preservation easement is a private legal interest conveyed by a property owner to a preservation organization or to a government entity
Brevard Court and Latta Arcade, Charlotte NC, http://westnorth.com/category/chicagoland/
Milestones in Preservation • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• •
1813 - Philadelphia State House (Independence Hall) saved from demolition. 1853 - Mount Vernon Ladies' Association formed to save Mount Vernon. 1872 - Yellowstone National Park made a federally protected area 1889 - First national funding for historic preservation, Congress appropriated $2,000 to preserve Casa Grande ruin in Arizona. 1906 - Antiquities Act passed, the country's first national preservation legislation, designating national monuments on federal land and establishing penalties for destroying federally owned sites. 1916 - National Park Service established to deal with areas too large to be preserved privately 1926 - John D. Rockefeller, Jr. begins funding the restoration of Williamsburg, Virginia. 1929 - Henry Ford establishes Greenfield Village. 1931 - Charleston, South Carolina’s “Old and Historic District," the country's first designated historic district. 1933 - Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) authorized by President Roosevelt. 1935 - Historic Sites Act passed by Congress to establish historic preservation policy; it "established policy ...to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings and objects of national significance for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States." 1949 - National Trust for Historic Preservation established by Congressional Charter to provide coordination between Public and Private sector. 1966 - National Historic Preservation Act passed; major provisions established preservation roles for federal, state and local levels of government. It also established the National Register of Historic Places, the concept of historic districts, and the Advisory Board on Historic Preservation. 1976 - Tax Reform Act removed incentive for demolition of older buildings. 1978 - Revenue Act established investment tax credits for rehabilitation of historic buildings. http://www.emich.edu/public/geo/history.html
Legal Basis for Preservation Federal
Congress and President
State
Legislature
Local
City Council
•1872 - Yellowstone National Park made a federally protected area, leading to interest in protecting southwestern adobe dwellings. •1889 - First national funding for historic preservation, as Congress appropriated $2,000 to preserve Casa Grande ruin in Arizona. •1906 - Antiquities Act •1916 - National Park Service established •1933 - Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) authorized by President Roosevelt. •1935 - Historic Sites Act •1949 - National Trust for Historic Preservation established by Congressional charter •1966 - National Historic Preservation Act •1976 - Tax Reform Act •1978 - Revenue Act
Legal Basis for Preservation Federal
State
Congress and President
Legislature
Title 11, Chapter 68, State Code of Alabama Historic Preservation Commissions and Architectural Review Boards
Local
City Council
Legal Basis for Preservation Federal
Congress and President
Chapter 2, Division 5, City Code of Auburn Historic Preservation Commission
State
Local
Legislature
City Council
Key ordinances: March 2, 1999 – Ordinance 1818 – Establishment of the Historic Preservation Commission June 21, 2005 – Ordinance 2302 – Added the procedures for the recommendation and designation of historic districts and properties March 21, 2006 – Ordinance 2377 – Created the North College Historic District, Established Certificates of Appropriateness as a preservation tool, the mapping of Historic District boundaries is part of the Official Zoning Map, set forth legal authority
Historic Preservation Commission • If a city opts to enact a preservation ordinance, it must create a Historic Preservation Commission (11-68-2, AL State Code ) • A non-profit government entity (11-68-4, AL State Code ) • The Commission can employ professional, technical, office and other personnel as necessary (11-68-3, AL State Code ) • Appeals go to Circuit Court (11-68-10, AL State Code )
HPC Membership • Seven citizens • Resident of a historic district property OR Demonstrated training or experience in fields of history, architecture, architectural history, urban planning, archaeology, or law • Nominated by Mayor • Appointed by Council • 3 Year Terms (original terms were staggered)
Members of the HPC Beginning of Term
Expiration of term
Susie Thomas
2006
04/20/2009
Carol Pittard
2003
04/20/2009
Anne Tamblyn Shaw
2004
04/20/2010
Daniel W. Hollis, III
2006
04/20/2010
Thomas Sparrow
2008
04/20/2011
Charles Pick
2008
04/20/2011
Richard Meinert
2007
04/20/2011
HPC Responsibilities A Commission is authorized to: • • • • • •
Preserve and protect buildings, structures and sites of historic and architectural value in the historic districts designated pursuant to that ordinance; Prepare a survey of all property within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality creating the commission; Recommend to the municipality creating the commission buildings, structures, sites and districts for designation as historic properties or districts; Restore and preserve any historic properties acquired by the municipality creating the commission or acquired by the commission; Promote acquisition of facade and conservation easements by the municipality creating the commission or by the commission; Develop and conduct educational programs on historic projects and districts designated pursuant to the ordinance and on historic preservation subjects;
HPC Responsibilities (continued) • • • • • • •
Make such investigations and studies of matters relating to historic preservation as the municipality creating the commission or the commission deems necessary and appropriate for the purposes of this chapter; Apply for funds to carry out the purposes and responsibilities of the commission from municipal, county, state, federal and private agencies and sources; Purchase, sell, contract to purchase, contract to sell, own, encumber, lease, mortgage and insure real and personal property in carrying out the purposes and responsibilities of the commission; Investigate, survey and process nominations of properties to the National Register of Historic Places; Investigate, survey and process applications for certification of historic properties for tax credits for preservation expenditures; Contract with other municipal, county, state, federal and private agencies and organizations to perform historic preservation related functions; Exercise such further powers as the commission may deem reasonably necessary and proper to carry out the purposes, responsibilities and powers of the commission.
(11-68-5, AL State Code )
Historic District • • • •
•
Created by the City Council on March 26, 2006 Certificate of Appropriateness (CoA) required for exterior changes Classification of work is either routine maintenance, minor work, or major work Routine maintenance requires no CoA and most Minor Work is approved by staff CoAs are reviewed against Design Review Standards
Creation of a historic district
What has the HPC been up to? Primary activities have included: •
Working on improvements in the district right-of-way that include: – – – –
• • • •
New pedestrian street lights New signs and poles Historic district gateway signs Improvements to the curbs and sidewalks including brick trim
Reviewing amendments to the Design Review Standards Reviewing applications for certificates of appropriateness Reviewing proposals for new districts Maintaining Certified Local Government Status (National Historic Preservation Amendments Act of 1980) – – – –
The local government must establish an adequate and qualified historic preservation commission through a local ordinance. The local government must enforce appropriate state or local legislation for the designation and protection of historic properties. The purpose of the ordinance must be clearly stated. The local government must maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties. The local government shall provide for adequate public participation in the local historic preservation program, including the process of recommending properties for nomination to the National Register.
More Information? Auburn Planning Department 171 North Ross Street, Auburn, AL 36830 Phone: 334.501.3040 Fax: 334.501.7293 Carl Morgan, AICP, MCP Assistant Planning Director
[email protected] Matt Mosley Planner
[email protected]