Cory Kegerise, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

1. Speaking of Historic
Preservation…
Concepts, Terms, and Options
Cory R. Kegerise
Community Preservation Coordinator,
Eastern Pennsylvania
May 23, 2012

2. •13 county region in Eastern
Pennsylvania
•Planning and training for local
governments
•Advise community organizations and
individuals on preservation issues
•Help HARBs and Historical Commissions
with policies, ordinances, and training
Cory R. Kegerise
Graeme Park
859 County Line Rd.
Horsham, PA 19044
ckegerise@pa.gov
(215) 219-3824
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

3. Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

5. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission
www.phmc.state.pa.us
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

6. • Programs, definitions, and terms
• How historic preservation happens in
Pennsylvania
• The roles of the various “players”
• Benefits, incentives, and limitations
• The opportunities and options for
municipalities and community groups
• What’s next for Hatboro?
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

7. The Major Players
Federal State Local
State Historic
National Park Service Elected Body
Preservation Office
(PHMC)
Advisory Council Planning Commission
Other State Agencies
Historic Architectural
Review Board?
Historical
Commission?
Community Groups
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

8. The Major Programs
Federal State Local
National Register of
Keystone Grants Historic Districts Act
Historic Places
Rehabilitation Tax Municipalities Planning
Historical Markers
Credits Code
Section 106 Review Community Programs Main Street/Elm Street
Survey
Project Review
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

9. The Big Picture
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
– Established the nationwide framework for
Federal, State, and local government historic
preservation programs
– Created the National Register of Historic Places
– Requires Federal agencies to consider the effects
of their projects on historic resources
– Created State Historic Preservation Officers
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

10. The Big Picture
The Pennsylvania History Code
– Established the Pennsylvania Historical and
Museum Commission
– Designated the Bureau for Historic Preservation as
the State Historic Preservation Office
– Requires State agencies to consider the effects of
their projects on historic resources, with
limitations
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

11. The Big Picture
The Historic Districts Act of 1961
– Enables municipalities to designate areas of
historical significance as “historic districts” and
regulate how properties within those districts are
altered
– Requires PHMC certification of the boundaries of
districts
– Allows for appointment of Historic Architectural
Review Board
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

12. The Big Picture
The Municipalities Planning Code
– Enables municipalities to create special zoning
overlays for historic properties and enact certain
benefits and restrictions on those properties
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

13. The Big Picture
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official
list of the Nation's historic places worthy of
preservation. Authorized by the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's
National Register of Historic Places is part of a national
program to coordinate and support public and private
efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's
historic and archeological resources.
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

14. The Big Picture
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
– Maintained by the National Park Service
– Administered by the SHPOs (in Pennsylvania it’s
PHMC)
– Includes properties of national, state, and local
significance
– Does NOT place any requirements or restrictions on
private property owners
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

15. Some Basics
What is a historic resource?
The National Register of Historic
Places defines 5 broad categories:
•Buildings
•Sites
•Structures
•Objects
•Districts
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

16. Some Basics
What makes something “historic” as opposed to “old”?
• SIGNIFICANCE in American history, architecture, archaeology,
engineering, and culture at the National, State or local level
•INTEGRITY – Do the physical remains reflect the significance of
the property?
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

17. Some Basics
What makes something “historic” as opposed to “old”?
• SIGNIFICANCE in American history, architecture, archaeology,
engineering, and culture at the National, State or local level
•INTEGRITY – Do the physical remains reflect the significance of
the property?
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

18. Some Basics
How old is old enough to be historically significant?
•Rule of thumb is 50 years old or older
•Some exceptions for properties that are less than 50 years old
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

19. Some Basics
Defining Historical Significance
•National Register of Historic Places program provides most
widely used definitions and criteria
•Evaluation of significance involves applying objective criteria to
the specific facts of a property and then putting those facts in
context
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

20. Some Basics
Defining Historical Significance…continued
•National Register of Historic Places uses four criteria:
A: association with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of our history; or
B: association with the lives of significant persons in or past; or
C: embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic
values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components
may lack individual distinction; or
D: that have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in history or
prehistory.
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

21. Some Basics
Understanding Integrity
•Integrity is the ability of a property to physically convey its
significance
•National Register of Historic Places defines seven aspects of
integrity:
• Location
• Design
• Setting
• Materials
• Workmanship
• Feeling
• Association
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

22. Some Basics
• Why list a property or district on the National
Register?
– Recognition and pride
– Consideration of effects of Federal and State
projects on listed properties
– Preliminary qualification for Federal Rehabilitation
Investment Tax Credits
– Prerequisite/bonus points for some grants
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

23. Some Basics
What is the process for listing a property in the
National Register?
1. Complete a Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form (HRSF)
2. PHMC Staff review the HRSF and determine eligibility for listing
3. Complete the National Register nomination form and submit to
PHMC for review and comment
4. State Historic Preservation Board reviews nomination; if
favorable, submit form to National Park Service
5. NPS accepts/lists property or rejects nomination
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

24. Some Basics
What is the Historic Districts Act?
– State law that allows municipalities to designate areas of historical
significance as “historic districts” and regulate how properties within
those districts are altered
– Allows for the appointment of a Historic Architectural Review Board to
review alterations to properties and make recommendations to
elected body (Council)
– Requirements may be as limited as delaying/restricting demolition to
review of all exterior changes
– Scope of the ordinance should be developed in response to particular
goals/needs of the district and related to planning goals
– May not be sufficient to solve all of the issues on its own
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

25. Some Basics
What is the Municipalities Planning Code?
– State law that defines how municipalities conduct planning and zoning
activities
– Includes a provision for the use of zoning for historic preservation
purposes
– Must useful for single properties, landscapes, or for addressing the
size, scale, massing of new construction or major additions to historic
buildings.
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

26. IMPORTANT POINTS
• The National Register does NOT require or prevent individual
property owners from doing anything to their property,
unless:
– They are using Federal or State permits, licenses, or
funding for a project
– They are receiving a Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit
• Only local ordinances or zoning can restrict the actions of
private property owners, within certain parameters
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

27. Incentives
Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credits
– Available to properties that are individually listed in or contributing to
a National Register listed historic district
– Only for INCOME PRODUCING properties (not private residences)
– Tax CREDIT equal to 20% of total rehabilitation (not new construction)
costs
– Credit is applied against Federal income taxes
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

28. Incentives
Grants
– Grant options change based on budgets, but are generally much more
limited now than in the past
– Usually only available to non-profits or local governments
– Some grants are for “bricks and mortar” projects, while others may be
for survey and planning
– Generally, should not be the primary motivation for pursuing National
Register listing or local designation
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

29. Incentives
Zoning and Non-Monetary Incentives
– Greater variety of options available to municipalities based on local
needs
– Can be used to encourage adaptive use of historic properties,
promote variety of uses, or sensitive infill/new construction
– Some examples might include:
• Density bonuses for residential projects
• Relief from parking requirements
• Special exceptions /conditional uses
• Fee waivers
• Design assistance
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

30. The Benefits
Why municipalities take a historic preservation-friendly
approach to planning and economic development:
•Community Pride
•Distinction and “sense of place”
•Environmental Sustainability
•Economic value
• Historic preservation creates and sustains local jobs
• Increased economic competitiveness and attractiveness
• Predictability and stability of the built environment
• Stabilization/increase in property values
• 3-36% increase in property values in locally designated districts
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

31. Where to Start?
All efforts to protect and enhance historic properties begins
with survey
–Good information is key to good decision-making
–Lack of information and sound policies = reactionary
Integrate historic preservation principles into existing
programs
Ensure that historic preservation is part of comprehensive
planning and zoning process
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

32. Where to Start?
Types of historic resource surveys
– Reconnaissance (windshield)
– Intensive
– Comprehensive
The level of survey depends on various factors:
– Purpose
– Time
– Money
– People
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

33. Survey in Pennsylvania
PHMC/Bureau for Historic Preservation Survey Program
– PHMC/BHP maintains the official inventory of historic
properties in Pennsylvania
– The state inventory is used by local, state, and federal
agencies, consultants, planners, researchers, etc.
– Permanent record retention and public access
– Established process/framework
– Records are generated through a variety of methods and are
constantly updated
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

34. Survey in Pennsylvania
PHMC/Bureau for Historic Preservation Survey Program
– Online database called Cultural Resources Geographic
Information System (CRGIS)
http://crgis.state.pa.us
Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

35. Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options

38. Speaking of Historic Preservation:
Concepts, Terms, and Options