By Sue Davis Smith
Gazette staff writer
Related story: Well-preserved
Editor's note: Marlys Svendsen, a consultant hired by Cedar Rapids to inventory and survey city neighborhoods for historical recognition, recently talked to the City Council on what it means to have a local historic district.
Q: What is a historic district ordinance?
A: The Iowa Code allows cities to enact their own ordinance to address areas of construction and demolition. The ordinance also establishes a process called design review to preserve qualities of an area of historical significance. This is not the same as placement on the National Register of Historic Places. The national register is for recognition; the local ordinance allows for preservation to happen.
Q: What does a local historic district do to property values?
A: This is the most frequently asked question. It does not lower them. In a local historic district, property values tend to rise, not to decrease.
Q: Can a local historic district ordinance restrict what homeowners can do to their homes?
A: This is in regard to design review, which is the meat of a local historic district. Of the 14 communities in Iowa with local historic district ordinances, the majority of applications requesting certification approval are approved. As an example, in Iowa City, 100 percent of their design review applications were approved.
Q: Would a local historic district improve the quality of a neighborhood?
A: Yes. A historic district designation is attractive to investors, and more money gets invested to improve properties.
Q: Does historic district designation promote home ownership?
A: It tends to reduce quick turnover of properties and can increase the number of rentals. Some buildings haven't been used or are underused, and with preservation efforts, it encourages the development of these buildings, so you see more units available.
Q: Does this kind of ordinance require increased city staff to handle the extra paperwork?
A: In some communities, it does. It will depend on the number of buildings reviewed. This will be hard to predict what will happen here in Cedar Rapids.
Q: What are the negatives of designating a historic district?
A: Not everyone will be happy with additional steps to repairing a home.
Compiled by Sue Davis Smith
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