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 •1872 - Yellowstone National Park made a federally protected
and area, leading to interest in protecting southwestern adobe
dwellings.
President
•1889 - First national funding for historic preservation, as
Congress appropriated $2,000 to preserve Casa Grande ruin
in Arizona.
State Legislature •1906 - Antiquities Act
•1916 - National Park Service established
•1933 - Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
authorized by President Roosevelt.
•1935 - Historic Sites Act
Local City Council •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 Congress and
President

Title 11, Chapter 68, State Code of

Alabama
State Legislature

Historic Preservation Commissions and

Architectural Review Boards
Local City Council
 Legal Basis for Preservation
Federal Congress and Chapter 2, Division 5, City Code of Auburn
President

Historic Preservation Commission

Key ordinances:
State Legislature
 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
Local City Historic District, Established Certificates of Appropriateness as a
preservation tool, the mapping of Historic District boundaries is part
Council 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
cmorgan@auburnalabama.org

Matt Mosley
Planner
mmosley@auburnalabama.org