Search

Denver has been fortunate to have a strong preservation ethic and a solid landmark ordinance for more than fifty years. The city owes much of this to the first locally designated historic district in the city, Larimer Square. Larimer Square is a single block of 22 late-nineteenth century commercial buildings, the oldest such structures in the city, located near the origins of Denver along the banks of Cherry Creek near the confluence with the South Platte River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of rooftop additions is often a part of a historic commercial building's rehabilitation plan. Rooftop additions are built for additional office or living space, hotel rooms, outdoor bars and gardens. Most historic districts allow for rooftop additions if they are built in accordance with adopted design guidelines. The National Park Service also approves rooftop additions for tax certification projects provided they follow established standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

San Marcos is a fast-growing municipality of 67t553, located in Central Texas between Austin and San Antonio along Interstate 35. In 1972, among the buzz surrounding the nation's 200th birthday, the San Marcos Bicentennial Commission was formed to plan and coordinate the city's celebration of the grand occasion; San Marcos was one the first seven cities to be recognized as a National Bicentennial City. On the heels of this, in August 1974, came the adoption of the first local historic district, the Belvin Street Historic District, and the establishment of a Board of Review to oversee the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many local historic preservation commissions have expanded their long-standing emphasis on architectural resources and taken steps to recognize large and small, urban and rural cultural landscapes as resources that have intrinsic value as heritage resources. Several developments illustrate growing interest in the historic designation of rural cultural landscapes (historic farms, roads, forests) and better acknowledgement of the importance of urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in the Piedmont region of Maryland, the City of Frederick is home to a vibrant and growing arts scene. It is also home to one of the oldest historic districts in the country and largest in the state. Established as a market town in 1745, Frederick prospered on the agricultural economy and abundant wheat production of surrounding farms. After the Civil War, during which the city saw the passing of both Union and Confederate armies and served as hospital to large numbers of wounded soldiers, there was a shift away from agriculture and the city's industrial base expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After three years of controversy and litigation the First Parish in Bedford Unitarian Universalist Church in Bedford, Massachusetts placed solar panels on its church roof in the spring of 2019. Constructed in 1817, the Federal-style church is a contributing property to the Old Bedford Center Historic District which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. After several public meetings to discuss the project, the church applied for the installation of the solar panels on its roof in June 2016, but the application was denied by the Bedford Historic District Commission (HDC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upzoning is all over the news lately. The term refers to changing zoning laws to make denser building legal. With enabling zoning and careful interior alteration, certain historic properties are excellent candidates for residential conversion projects. 264 West Walnut Lane, a contributing property within Germantown's Tulpehocken Station Historic District, demonstrates how old buildings can adapt, balancing historic charm and contemporary urban needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initiated ten years ago in 2011, the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach represents an alternative to treating lived-in historic places as monuments and recognizes that cities are the "living expression of historic evolution." The HUL program considers change as a variable in the social, economic and physical aspects of cities to understand and manage -- not to avoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the author's research on the property value of local historic districts before and after designation in Greensboro city, North Carolina from 1972 to 2012. Topics include tax assessment approach for getting comprehensive database, use of mapping technology for individual property values, and weighted average method used for assessment. Bar charts for assessed values of areas and districts are presented.

The article discusses the Central Addition neighborhood of Boise, Idaho, focusing on efforts to preserve it's remaining historic buildings by designating it an ecodistrict. Topics include a discussion of the area's history; a discussion of the intersection of historic and ecological preservation; and a discussion of sustainable development. INSET: What is an EcoDistrict?.

The article discusses historic preservation laws and policies in Salt Lake City, Utah, focusing on Character Conservation Districts (CDCs). Topics include Salt Lake City's Community Preservation Plan for historic preservation and neighborhood conservation; a discussion of the difference between character conservation and local historic districts; and the use of different categories of zoning laws to preserve areas.

The article looks at Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) and follows its history from the inception of the commission in 1967 with the support of preservation organization Indiana Landmarks, until 2013. The author discusses the development of IHPC in terms of staff, authority and districts zoned. Special attention is paid to the commissions' power of designation and preservation issues since the year of 2000.

The article discusses economic impact in U.S. cities and towns due to historic preservation. Topics include factors of analysis such as; creation of jobs through historic rehabilitation, heritage tourism's impact and influence of historic designation on property values, towns of Connecticut and cities of Utah for evaluation, and increase in real estate value of local historic districts in comparison to the city average.

The article discusses Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs), used for the preservation of districts not eligible to be declared historic districts. Topics include a discussion of the local character of law surrounding conservation, preservation and historic districts; the impact of demographic change, incompatible construction and other factors on neighborhood change; and a discussion of the customisability and local character of NCDs.

The article discusses public policy tools for historic preservation in Connecticut, focusing on the Village Districts Act. Topics include a discussion of the designation "Village Districts" and the way it can be used to protect particular neighborhoods; a comparison of Village Districts and Local Historic Districts; and municipal preservation ordinances.

The article discusses the case of infill housing with modern house infill in the historic district of Oakwood community in Raleigh, North Carolina. Topics include approval received by the house owners Louis Cherry and his wife Marsha Gordon from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission, filing of notice of appeal by a neighboring realtor against the rehabilitation, and the media attention received.

The article discusses the creation of District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) tools by the regional regulatory and planning agency Cape Cod Commission to protect natural, cultural or economic resources from certain types of development. Topics include the establishment of the DCPC through a special act of the Massachusetts General Court; the protection of archaeological areas; and its effect on zoning laws and municipal ordinances.

The article discusses preservation efforts in Warren, Rhode Island, focusing on a discussion of the solutions used to circumvent a group opposed to designating the waterfront a historic district. Topics include a discussion of the Warren Voluntary Historic District, which offers tax credits to antique properties for qualifying renovations; a proposed plan to subdivide a historic church into condominiums; and the town's demolition ordinance.

The article presents a case study of the use of the delay-in-demolition section of the preservation ordinance of the city of Wilmington, North Carolina to save two commercial buildings located in a National Register Historic District. The article discusses the purchase of the buildings by the Historic Wilmington Foundation during the 90-day delay, 365-day delays that preserved former residential structures so they could be adaptively reused as well as examples where the delay failed.