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To provide a forum for a discussion about the proposed Logan Historic District, I am posting an entry on our blog page. I hope you will add a comment on the blog page about listing the proposed district on the National Register. Questions about or corrections to this material are also welcome as comments on our blog. Click here to go to the blog post.
Bob
Wasson
Frequently Asked Questions about:
National Register Historic Districts in Ohio
skip to: How
does the National Register program encourage the preservation of
historic district properties?
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historic places worthy of preservation. Over 3,700 historic places in Ohio — some individual properties, some entire districts — have been listed in the Register. More than 475 of these listings are historic districts. Most counties have at least one district; Hocking County has three: Haydenville Historic Town, Hocking Valley Railway Historic District and Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church Complex.In southeastern Ohio there are 63 districts, seven of which are native-American archaeological sites. Of the 56 other districts, only 16 date their historical significance back to the first quarter of the 19th century or earlier. These 16 districts share palettes of architectural styles similar to the area of Logan we are studying, and there are similarities in the ways we evolved commercially, socially and politically, but each had an unique beginning and developed in its own way. These places link us tangibly to our past and contribute to our understanding of the history of our communities, our state, and our nation.
The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. In each state a State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) coordinates the nomination of properties to the National Register before the applications are submitted to the National Park Service. In Ohio the duties of the SHPO are performed by the Ohio Historical Society.
What properties contribute to a district eligible for listing in the National Register?
Buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts can be listed in the Register. A National Register historic district may be as small as a few buildings, or as large as an entire downtown business district, neighborhood, or community in which historic properties that are associated with a particular time or theme in history predominate. Often their collective significance may be greater than that of any one building or site.Generally a district must be at least fifty years old, but not all places that are fifty years old are eligible for listing. The district must possess significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or culture and retain its historic integrity. This means that the district must not have lost the physical qualities that convey its significance.
Within a district, most individual properties that are at least 50 years old contribute to its significance. Most properties that are less than 50 years old are not considered to contribute. The National Register Criteria for Evaluation are listed at the end of this document.
As a planning tool, historic district designation is often used to foster the preservation of historic properties within the district boundary, or to encourage reinvestment in them.
How does the National Register program encourage the preservation of historic district properties?National Recognition:National Register listing honors a property by recognizing its importance to its community, the state, or the nation. This recognition increases local awareness of the value of historic properties and can validate and spur preservation efforts. Financial Incentives: Financial incentives for preserving National Register properties include: ◆ 20% Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit: Owners and some lessees of income-producing buildings listed in the National Register may be eligible for a federal income tax credit equal to 20% of their rehabilitation expenses under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. [Note that this is a tax credit, which is subtracted from the taxes you owe. Also, the credit is transferable which means that it can be sold, though at a market-based discount. See IRS publications including Tax Aspects of Historic Preservation for requirements to qualify for this credit.] ◆ 25% Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit: A taxpayer who qualifies for the 20% federal income tax credit, as well as the owner of a residence that contributes to the significance of a historic district, may also qualify for a state income tax credit of 25% of their rehabilitation costs. [However, note that this relatively new "pilot" program has a cap on the total amount of credits that can be granted in a given year. Because of this limitation only about half of the otherwise qualified applicants have received the credit. For more details on this situation see the side-bar to the right.] ◆ Easement Donations: The federal Internal Revenue Code also provides for a federal income, estate, or gift tax deduction for the charitable contribution of partial interest in a historic structure that is listed in the National Register or a “historically important land area.” [An example of an organization that accepts easement donations is Preservation Ohio.] ◆ Historic Preservation Grants: Organizations, institutions, and government entities that own National Register properties may be eligible for grants for preservation planning projects. Protection: Federal and state laws encourage, but do not mandate, the preservation of National Register properties. National Register listing results in the following limited protection: ◆ Consideration in planning for federal, federally licensed, and federally assisted projects: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies to consider the effect of their actions on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register. Federal agencies must consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer when planning projects that involve federal funds, permits, licenses, or property. ◆ Possible consideration in planning for certain state-assisted projects: Some states have provisions for a review process for projects involving National Register-listed properties owned or leased by the state. [We do not know if Ohio law requires this review.] In some communities, local ordinances provide protection for historic properties, but these ordinances are established by local governments; they are not part of the National Register program. Ohio local governments can designate historic properties or districts and protect them with ordinances - whether or not they are listed in the National Register. |
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Will National Register listing place restrictions on my property?
Owners of private property listed in the National Register have no obligation to open their properties to the public, to restore them, or even to maintain them. Owners can do anything they want to their properties, provided there is no federal involvement (funds, licenses, or permits).What is the procedure for listing a district in the National Register?
Anyone can prepare a nomination to the National Register. All nominations undergo scrutiny in a process that begins with a preliminary review by the SHPO. SHPO staff provide technical assistance to individuals, organizations, and consultants who prepare nominations. The SHPO notifies all property owners and — for districts like the proposed Logan Historic District with more than fifty properties — the SHPO holds a public hearing in the community [likely in Oct. or early Nov. for the Logan Historic District]. Unless a majority of property owners object, completed and technically correct nominations are presented to the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board (OHSPAB), which meets three times each year. The OHSPAB is composed of professionals with expertise in history, architectural history, archeology, architecture, and other preservation-related fields, and interested citizens. Nominations approved by the OHSPAB are submitted to the National Park Service, which makes the final decision concerning whether a district will be listed.National Register Criteria
The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association, and:A. Are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
B. Are associated with the lives of significant persons in our past; or
C. Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; represent the work of a master; possess high artistic values; or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
D. Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.