Question 1: Does the Freedmen’s Town National Register Historic District help protect historic homes from demolition or inappropriate development?
Answer: No, a National Register District does not protect historic structures from demolition, inappropriate development, or out of scale new construction, as is painfully clear in Freedmen’s Town. It may provide funding in the form of a federal tax credits for certain rehabilitation projects to prevent out of scale new construction. Only local City of Houston districts can create these protections.
Question 2: Can the City of Houston create a Historic District without the consent of owners?
Answer: No, the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) may instruct the city to create a district, but city and state law requires a super majority of property owners to sign on to the district for designation. Access to protections and benefits come with the creation of a City of Houston Historic District
Question 3: Are Heritage Districts like Historic Districts?
Answer: No, Heritage Districts & Historic Districts are different from one another. Heritage Districts only regulate the public “Right of Way” (ROW) and any publicly owned land (owned by City of Houston). The Heritage District Ordinance allows non-profit organizations to recognize the unique qualities of Houston’s historic and culturally significant neighborhoods. Organizations that are approved for a heritage district will be permitted to protect, restore or install significant elements within the district such as brick paved streets, curbs, driveways, sidewalks and walkways, signage and markers, public art, vegetation, and trees in the city's public right-of-way. City of Houston Historic Districts regulate structures, not public land like Heritage Districts.
Question 4: Is anyone eligible to create a Heritage District?
Answer: No, not just anyone may apply. Only non-profit organizations are eligible. The applicant must prove that they are invested in improvements in the area and have financial stability to take on the responsibility for the foreseeable future. An official application must be made that includes many qualifications and requirements such as features that define the district and the future intentions of the organization.
Question 5: Are the historic brick streets in Freedmen’s Town protected?
Answer: Yes, they are protected in two ways. First, they are protected by the “Street in Place” ordinance No 990-1344 confirmed in 1999. Please see links to the ordinance and the Standard Operating Procedure Document (SOP). Secondly, the Freedmen’s Town Heritage District helps to protect the historic brick streets of Freedmen’s Town because they are a part of the Heritage District designation.
LINK(s):
Review attachments at top right column on this page:
Question 6: Can someone other than a property owner apply to designate a Protected Landmark?
Answer: No, the property owner must consent to nominate a Protected Landmark (PLM). Benefits of creating a PLM include eligibility for local tax exemptions and protection from demolition in perpetuity. PLMs do not need to be in local Historic Districts.
Question 7: Could the Freedmen’s Town Preservation Financial Incentive Plan Certified Local Government Grant have gone directly to the community?
Answer: No, the property owner must consent to nominate a Protected Landmark (PLM). Benefits of creating a PLM include eligibility for local tax exemptions and protection from demolition in perpetuity. PLMs do not need to be in local Historic Districts.
Question 8: Will the community have an opportunity to contribute their views and goals on the incentive plan?
Answer:
Absolutely, yes! The goal of the plan is to prepare an actionable, collaborative, community-wide historic preservation incentive plan for Freedmen’s Town. City staff sees a further goal of the project to provide opportunities for preservation in underserved areas throughout Houston. Please use this age to sign up for alerts, post questions/comments on the forum and fill out the survey.
LINK(s): See below for the survey and public forum. or contact Houston Office of Preservation (HOP) Historicpreservation@houstontx.gov (832) 393-6556
Attend In Person: Metropolitan Multi-Service Center, 1475 W. Gray St.
Question 1: Does the Freedmen’s Town National Register Historic District help protect historic homes from demolition or inappropriate development?
Answer: No, a National Register District does not protect historic structures from demolition, inappropriate development, or out of scale new construction, as is painfully clear in Freedmen’s Town. It may provide funding in the form of a federal tax credits for certain rehabilitation projects to prevent out of scale new construction. Only local City of Houston districts can create these protections.
Question 2: Can the City of Houston create a Historic District without the consent of owners?
Answer: No, the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) may instruct the city to create a district, but city and state law requires a super majority of property owners to sign on to the district for designation. Access to protections and benefits come with the creation of a City of Houston Historic District
Question 3: Are Heritage Districts like Historic Districts?
Answer: No, Heritage Districts & Historic Districts are different from one another. Heritage Districts only regulate the public “Right of Way” (ROW) and any publicly owned land (owned by City of Houston). The Heritage District Ordinance allows non-profit organizations to recognize the unique qualities of Houston’s historic and culturally significant neighborhoods. Organizations that are approved for a heritage district will be permitted to protect, restore or install significant elements within the district such as brick paved streets, curbs, driveways, sidewalks and walkways, signage and markers, public art, vegetation, and trees in the city's public right-of-way. City of Houston Historic Districts regulate structures, not public land like Heritage Districts.
Question 4: Is anyone eligible to create a Heritage District?
Answer: No, not just anyone may apply. Only non-profit organizations are eligible. The applicant must prove that they are invested in improvements in the area and have financial stability to take on the responsibility for the foreseeable future. An official application must be made that includes many qualifications and requirements such as features that define the district and the future intentions of the organization.
Question 5: Are the historic brick streets in Freedmen’s Town protected?
Answer: Yes, they are protected in two ways. First, they are protected by the “Street in Place” ordinance No 990-1344 confirmed in 1999. Please see links to the ordinance and the Standard Operating Procedure Document (SOP). Secondly, the Freedmen’s Town Heritage District helps to protect the historic brick streets of Freedmen’s Town because they are a part of the Heritage District designation.
LINK(s):
Review attachments at top right column on this page:
Question 6: Can someone other than a property owner apply to designate a Protected Landmark?
Answer: No, the property owner must consent to nominate a Protected Landmark (PLM). Benefits of creating a PLM include eligibility for local tax exemptions and protection from demolition in perpetuity. PLMs do not need to be in local Historic Districts.
Question 7: Could the Freedmen’s Town Preservation Financial Incentive Plan Certified Local Government Grant have gone directly to the community?
Answer: No, the property owner must consent to nominate a Protected Landmark (PLM). Benefits of creating a PLM include eligibility for local tax exemptions and protection from demolition in perpetuity. PLMs do not need to be in local Historic Districts.
Question 8: Will the community have an opportunity to contribute their views and goals on the incentive plan?
Answer:
Absolutely, yes! The goal of the plan is to prepare an actionable, collaborative, community-wide historic preservation incentive plan for Freedmen’s Town. City staff sees a further goal of the project to provide opportunities for preservation in underserved areas throughout Houston. Please use this age to sign up for alerts, post questions/comments on the forum and fill out the survey.
LINK(s): See below for the survey and public forum. or contact Houston Office of Preservation (HOP) Historicpreservation@houstontx.gov (832) 393-6556
FAQ_Nov2021_meetinginfo_HistoricONLY-ER.pdf (386 KB) (pdf)
