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Post by scottielass on Oct 2, 2007 12:43:24 GMT -5
Next year our house is going to hit the big 100 year mark. I have been tossing about the idea of pursuing historic status, but not sure of the pros and cons of the process. Has anyone been through the process?
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Post by haasfan on Oct 2, 2007 13:51:18 GMT -5
i know the process well, chairman of our two historic districts and preservationist for years. if you are looking at a state level recognition, the only thing that happens is you are eligible for a state historic marker. that's it. if you are living within a historic district and your house is not already a "resource" you can ask your commission to reconsider your house. as a contributing resource or not, your exterior changes will be reviewed by the historic district commission instead of the local planning commission. what is acceptable and not acceptable is determined by your local district commission. it sounds as if you are looking more at state status which does not offer any protection to the property what so ever nor does it require you to do anything once you achieve the historic status.
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Post by haasfan on Oct 2, 2007 15:08:28 GMT -5
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Post by scottielass on Oct 2, 2007 20:39:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Ha. I knew you would have some resources. No we're not looking special status. Our neighborhood was declared historic about 10 years ago. Just wondering if we should get individual status.
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Post by haasfan on Oct 2, 2007 20:58:39 GMT -5
if you have a city declared historic district, your house is either a contributing resource or, a non contributing resource. the standards and guidelines apply to both categories, it is the wish of the commission that determines how far to carry implementation of guidelines. in historic districts, houses are protected against razing & damaging exterior changes. historic districting is a very powerful tools against rogue developers and the loss of our past.
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Post by foodisgood on Oct 3, 2007 8:43:56 GMT -5
I live in a historic district and there is no protection against razing and exterior changes. You can however apply for a plaque.
There is a whole lot of razing and changing going on. Soon it will be more new than historic if residents are not careful. A lot of the community is upset about having the character of the district changing.
From time to time we get letters about donating the facade of our house. You get a tax break and the structure is preserved. Of course, when it comes time to sell your house, you don't own the front of it.
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Post by scottielass on Oct 3, 2007 8:44:31 GMT -5
The neighborhood was declared historic for just this reason. Our local library was looking at expansion 10 years ago, and was considering imminent domain to gain land. Our property backs up to the library's parking lot, so it was one of the homes in jeapordy. There were enough homes at the 100 year mark to get historic status, though. The library has built a great relationship with the neighborhood since this time. They choose a different path for their expansion, and they have built "up" instead of "out".
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Post by haasfan on Oct 3, 2007 9:00:38 GMT -5
there are different types of historic designation. if your city commission has created the historic district within the parameters of the national trust guidelines and your state historic commission has validated your district, there indeed is protection against razing any structure. if you have only a "declared historic district" and plaques, there is no protection what so ever. The definitive source is: www.nationaltrust.org/ the financial benefit of historic designation can be huge. nearly every historic district in this country enjoys, on an average, a 25% added value to surrounding areas. also, and this varies state by state, i will use my state, michigan, as example: work done on a historic house is entitled to a 25% state tax credit provided work is a minimum of 10% the SEV. in my community, our first applicants received a 40k credit and we have one for 175k in the works right now. so far, my community has seen nearly 400k in tax credits, received by the property owners. call your city and speak with your historic district commission to determine just what you have and what you are entitled to. if your city is not helpful, go right to the state. historic district commissions, city or state level, are usually immensely helpful and they want to save what you have.
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