City moves to create another historic district

Published 4:30 pm Saturday, April 30, 2011

Washington’s City Council is being asked to adopt a resolution supporting and recommending the nomination of the proposed North Market Street Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. The council will consider the request at its meeting Monday.The city’s Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on the nomination at 7 p.m. Tuesday.“The National Register is the nation’s official list of historic buildings, districts, archeological sites, and other resources worthy of preservation,” reads a memorandum from John Rodman, the city’s director of planning and development, to the council and mayor. “Listing a property on the National Register places no obligation of restriction on a private owner using private resources to maintain or alter their property. Owners of private property nominated to the NR have an opportunity to concur or object to the listing.”In 2008-2009, Washington sponsored a comprehensive survey of historic structures throughout the city, except for the existing downtown historic district. The nomination application is a result of that study.The study was partly funded by the State Historic Preservation Office.Many structures identified in the survey are located along a section of the North Market Street corridor north of Sixth Street, with that corridor stretching up to several blocks on either side of North Market Street.Inclusion of structures in the target area on the list could be a precursor to establishing a second historic district in the city. Property owners in historic districts usually face some restrictions on uses of their properties, Rodman said.For another historic district to be created in the city, such action would have to take place at the local level, starting with the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, Rodman said in 2009.The council is scheduled to conduct a public hearing concerning parking issues on North Academy Street and near First Christian Church during its meeting.At previous council meetings, Tim Prichard, who lives on North Academy Street, complained about parking congestion and related matters on North Academy Street between East Main and East Second streets. Prichard contended that traffic associated with First Christian Church and its preschool were part of the parking problem. He asked the city to look into his complaints.Earlier this year, First Christian Church officials agreed to work with Prichard to find equitable solutions to his concerns. The city’s public-works director and planning director have met with Prichard regarding his concerns.