Historic Barn Workshop

September 10, 2015

 

imagehandler1Spokane – If you own an old barn in Spokane County or the surrounding area, are you aware of the Heritage Barn Preservation Initiative?  A program of the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, this initiative established the Heritage Barn Register, a statewide list of historically significant barns.  Owners of historic barns over fifty years old that retain a significant degree of historic integrity can nominate their barn to be designated as a Heritage Barn and be included in the statewide register.  Moreover, owners of designated Heritage Barns are eligible to apply for matching grants available to assist with barn stabilization and rehabilitation projects.  Nomination forms along with application materials can be downloaded at http://www.dahp.wa.gov/heritage-barn-register.

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and the Spokane City/County Historic Preservation Office will be hosting a free workshop on Thursday, September 10, 2015 from 8:00am to 9:30am in the Spokane City Council Chambers at City Hall for barn owners wishing to learn more about the Heritage Barn Preservation Initiative.  Chris Moore, Executive Director with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the process for completing program documents. The next deadline for nominating a barn to the Heritage Barn Register is September 25, 2015, with the deadline to submit applications requesting barn rehabilitation grant funds set for October 21, 2015.  Come join us to learn more about this wonderful opportunity and the application process.

City Hall is located at 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard. For more information about the workshop or the Heritage Barn Preservation Initiative contact Chris Moore at 206-624-9449 or via email at cmoore@preservewa.org.

 

 


 

National Register of Historic Places Submission

Completed August 31, 2015

Contact: Garrett Jones, 509.363.5462

The Spokane City/County Historic Landmarks Commission has partnered with the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department to develop a Multiple Property Submission to the National Register of Historic Places for the City of Spokane park system. The Commission Members will discuss the criteria that should be reviewed for this submission at the August SHLC Meeting.

A National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Submission requires completing a comprehensive Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPD) for the city park system and an individual park property nomination application. Both the MPD and the park property nomination require recording and documenting the history, physical characteristics, and historic significance of the City of Spokane park landscapes. The MPD will take into account the entire park system including the public parks, parkways, boulevards, and golf courses. Manito Park has been selected as the individual property to be nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Listing in the National Register of Historic Places provides formal recognition of a property’s historical, architectural, or archaeological significance based on national standards and is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture.
  • A National Register listing is an honor that signifies that a property is an important part of America’s cultural heritage and considered worthy of preservation. Nominations for listing historic properties come from the State Historic Preservation Officer.
  • A National Register listing is a commendation and does not come with any restrictions as to what can be done to the property by its owners. Restrictions apply to a local designation which is a separate application process and coordinated through the local historic preservation office.

This project is being funded in part through grants from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the Spokane Preservation Advocates. The consulting firm, Historical Research Associates, Inc., was selected through a Request for Proposals and has a contract with the City of Spokane to complete the Multiple Property Submission project. The Washington State Certified Local Government Grant requires the National Register submission will be completed within the grant period, October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. The first draft of the project will be submitted to the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) May 2015; the completed project is due to DAHP August 31, 2015.

 


 

Spokane Municipal Code Updates

December 2014

The City-County of Spokane Historic Preservation Office is implementing a few changes to the Spokane Municipal Code.  The proposed changes will help the  Historic Preservation Department run more effectively and clarify some of the wording regarding demolitions and Special Tax Valuation.  Briefly, the revisions are:

Commission Appointments (4.35) – The Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission is made up of 11 members. Previously, two were appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, two by the City and the remaining seven were jointly appointed by both entities.  The new ordinance changes the appointments to two by the Board of County Commissioners and nine by the City with no joint appointments.

 

Demolition Ordinance (17D.040.230) – Currently the demolition ordinance includes language which refers to National Register listed properties as subject to the demolition provisions.  Since National Register listing places no obligations on private property owners, the new ordinance would remove National Register listed properties under the demolition ordinance.

 

Waiver of Review (17D.040.300) – Edits were made to the Waiver of Review section of the SMC which allows the Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission to deny a waiver of review request by the owner if the work proposed does not meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

 

Special Valuation (17D.040.310) – Updates were made to the Special Valuation section of the SMC which adds a section to the existing ordinance that fully clarifies the incentive of the program.  The only property types that are eligible to take advantage of Special Tax Valuation are those listed individually on the Spokane Register of Historic Places or contributing to a district on the Spokane Register of Historic Places.

 

Public hearings are scheduled for January 21 (Landmarks Commission) and January 28 (Plan Commission).  Below are several items that provide more information on the proposed changes.  Questions?  Concerns?  Please feel free to contact our Department.

SMC Ordinance Revisions PowerPoint

Ordinance Revision Draft

SMC Ordinance Revisions Briefing Paper