Historic District Designation Reap Benefits for Homeowners and the Community

Photo By James Neiss

Regardless of the motives behind Mayor Dyster's push to get his neighborhood (Orchard Parkway and Cedar Ave) designated as a Historic District, the benefits of such a designation are significant. The many unique tax benefits that these properties will receive are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential off-spin of benefits for the community.

Excerpted from an article on PreservationNation.Org:

• A local district can result in a positive economic impact from tourism.  A historic district that is aesthetically cohesive and well promoted can be a community's most important attraction.  The retention of historic areas as a way to attract tourist dollars makes good economic sense.
• The protection of local historic districts can enhance business recruitment potential.  Companies continually re-locate to communities that offer their workers a higher quality of life, which is greatly enhanced by successful local preservation programs and stable historic districts.
• Local districts provide social and psychological benefits.  A sense of empowerment and confidence develops when community decisions are made through a structured participatory process rather than behind closed doors or without public comment.

Even if the Mayor's interest was purely self motivated, the benefits are just as good for the surrounding community. We all know that Main St and the overall downtown needs any help it can get in attracting business to support/develop current and future businesses.

Historic Districts are a great tool for the community to harness history and use it to develop the future.