How Do You Get Your Propertyon The National Historic Register

August 26, 2013

The Devil's Abet Guide to National Register List

by Aaron 1000. Dougherty, Volition Interpret for Food

Celebrated Patten House (1898) in Palatine, Ill.

If y'all're a preservation enthusiast, inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places comes with a lot of perks. (Read a quick primer hither.) If y'all're not, you lot may think that George Washington'south inconsiderate decision to sleep in the 300-twelvemonth-old farmhouse you but inherited is going to cause y'all a lot of headaches.

I'm not here to tell you nigh all the great things that volition happen for you if you go registered. I'm here to play devil's advocate: to tell you that if don't want this kind of attention, the worst thing that could happen with federal registration is that yous just ... continue on keeping on.

Why should your business firm exist on the National Register? Well, why not?

"I don't want the regime telling me what I can practice with my property."

Fight the power!

At that place are a lot of horror stories about government intervention in historic properties. A lot of these are tales of good policy gone bad, of well-intentioned people post-obit their passion for cultural resources further than is socially acceptable or possibly even necessary. (Example: insisting that refurbished 18th-century walls mix a certain percent of Welsh-pony pilus in their plaster.)

But, the National Register is non going to give y'all these problems. Preservation initiatives get their strongest support and win their greatest victories at the land and local levels. As far as the Feds are concerned, your status on the NR is largely honorific.

The only time the federal government can meddle in the affairs of an NR-listed property is if the possessor takes preservation tax credits. This is to continue owners from using preservation money to knock their building down. If you don't want government interference in your use of your celebrated belongings, merely don't take their coin.

[Ed. note: Description/correction! National Register eligibility and listing does non affect owners doing work on their own properties, and only triggers a review process if the federal government undertakes or licenses a project on the property. Federal preservation tax credits are non currently available for homeowners, but can be used past owners of income-producing backdrop if they bide past preservation standards.]

National Register plaque for the Nott House of Kennebunkport, Maine.

"I won't be able to get my building insured."

Some insurance companies don't differentiate between "historic" and "decrepit," and may assume that National Register-listed structures are in a land of disrepair. Prove them incorrect!

As with any property, primitive plumbing, gas, and electric systems will consequence in difficulties with your insurance company. But if you lot're maintaining your historic structure anyways, you lot might as well get the recognition for it, correct?

If repairs don't fix your insurance problems, National Trust Insurance Services offer historic property coverage for pretty much any holding that "exhibits historical graphic symbol, materials, and workmanship [...] whether certified or non."

"I don't desire to post a sign or a plaque."

It's commonly misunderstood that by accepting recognition on the National Annals, you're forced to post educational signage and waysides.This type of signage draws people like ants to spilled sugar. But if you're non a big fan of gawkers or ants, rejoice! The NR doesn't require properties to mail anything, or even to identify themselves outside of the usual accost on the mailbox.

The commemorative plaques that you see constantly in older places similar Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston aren't fifty-fifty automatically provided upon the listing of your belongings. Non only are these signs completely voluntary, you take to purchase ane if you choose to brandish it.

So, order one if y'all want. Or don't. It's your house.

"I don't want to give tours or permit tourists on my belongings."

Again, this is a instance of owner preference. Some people like the attention and recognition that comes from a historically significant site, and some don't.

If you lot're the blazon of person who likes dressing up in stockings and a tricorn hat and lecturing school groups about Colonial living, y'all're welcome to invite people onto your private property. If you don't, so there are trespassing laws in upshot.

Lake Morton Historic Dwelling and Garden Bout. Lakeland, Fla., 2012.

"I can't dispose of my property however I want."

Some people may consider your business firm to be a national treasure, but it's nonetheless your business firm. You can hire it out, charter it, transfer it, will it abroad, or dispose of it in any manner that tickles your fancy. [Ed. notation: We at the National Trust sincerely hope you do not dispose of your house through sabotage. Instead, consider listing it on Historic Properties for Sale to find a preservation-minded buyer.]

"I DON'T Want TO BE LISTED AS A HISTORIC PROPERTY."

Blunt, unapologetic, and to the point. Nosotros've been sitting here this whole fourth dimension with a big elephant in the room, and you just punched him in the trunk.

If your mind is made up, there's not much that I tin do to alter your mind. BUT ... if you're merely a tiny bit tempted to exist listed (or indifferent), but worry you might later regret your decision, consider department 60.fifteen of the National Annals Federal Program Regulations, accordingly titled "Removing properties from the National Register."

Reason #1 for removal? "The holding has ceased to see the criteria for list in the National Annals because the qualities which caused it to be originally listed have been lost or destroyed, or such qualities were lost subsequent to nomination and prior to listing." In other words, it'due south not necessarily forever.

National Register listing is meant to be a no-strings-fastened laurels. Just do your homework, get your plaque, and everything will be fine.

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The original version of this postal service appeared on HistPres.com, a website and job lath for preservationists.

Aaron M. Dougherty is a history professional and preservation enthusiast. He holds an MA in History and a double BA in History and Writing from Eastern Michigan University. His interest in history extends into the related field of historical compages, and the recognition, research, adaptive reuse and protection of our historic buildings. Aaron currently resides in Massachusetts.

Source: https://savingplaces.org/stories/the-devils-advocate-guide-to-national-register-listing

Posted by: cramptonsmis1975.blogspot.com

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