-by Historic Preservation Advocate Sarah Marsom

Most of you know that the German Village Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), but have you ever thought about what that means?  The National Register of Historic Places is operated by the National Park Service.  There are currently 89,510 listings on the NRHP all over the United States; properties range from a Big Duck building to cliff dwellings to Mount Rushmore.  The sites are supposed to represent cultural and historical events, people, and places, which represent significant aspects of American history or prehistory.

Being on the NRHP is more than a title; it provides some level of protection and assistance for the properties within the district.  Both tax incentives and Section 106 are benefits of being on the NRHP.  Arguably the most important part of being on the NRHP is Section 106; Section 106 ensures that any project involving federal dollars takes historic properties and landscapes into account.  Section 106 has been integral in protecting the German Village Historic District in the impending I-70/71 construction, because of the legislation, the historic aesthetic has been taken into consideration when designing the new bridges (beginning page 46) and it ensures the Ohio Department of Transportation must assess any potential adverse effects to the district.

Contrary to what many believe, being on the NRHP does not ensure protection from demolition.  The NRHP does not have any laws preventing any modifications to the structure, instead it provides the Secretary of Interior Standards as guidelines to assist homeowners to make the right decisions.  If a property owner significantly alters the integrity of the structure it could potentially be removed from the NRHP.  Local historic designations provide some level of protection for structures/districts from demolition and provide the opportunity to create an architectural review commission and enforceable guidelines.  Luckily for German Village residents, the German Village historic district is both locally and nationally recognized, which provides the most protection possible and ensures the district maintains its architectural integrity.  With federal and local designations in addition to the German Village Commission, the German Village Historic district has long term security for the preservation of the district and real estate values.

For more information on the National Register of Historic Places, visit theofficial webpage.  If you have any questions about your upcoming renovation projects, the Certificate of Appropriateness application process, or need some preservation guidance, please contact me atsmarsom@germanvillage.com or 614-221-8888.