City of Fort Worth Historic Preservation Briefing Presented to City Council By the Planning and Development Department November 11, 2014 1
Local Districts and Individually Designated Historic Structures 2
How are Districts Created? Type Who Can Initiate the Process Eligibility Process Historic Districts Property owners who collectively own 50% or more of the individual tracts/ lots located within the proposed boundaries, and 50% or more of the total land area located within the proposed boundaries 2 or more structures or sites within the boundary must individually meet 3 or more of Fort Worth s Criteria for Designation 1. Submit designation application to P&D Department 2. HCLC Review 3. Zoning Commission Review City Manager City Council (by resolution) HCLC (by resolution) 4. City Council Review and Approval Conservation Districts Property owners - who collectively own 50% or more of the individual tracts/ lots located within the proposed boundaries, and 50% or more of the total land area located within the proposed boundaries City Council Minimum 1 block length (both sides of street) 50% of the land area in proposed boundary is presently improved Possess 2 or more distinctive features that create cohesion in the district (i.e. lot layouts, setbacks, type of construction, etc.) 1. Submit zoning application to P&D Department 2. Staff will develop a Conservation Plan for district 3. Zoning Commission Review 4. City Council Review and Approval 3
How are Individual Historic Designated Properties Created? Type Who Can Initiate the Process Eligibility Process Historic Designation of Individual Properties Property Owner City Manager City Council (by resolution) HCLC (by resolution) Demolition Delay (DD) Designation must meet 2 or more Criteria for Designation Historic and Cultural Landmark (HC) must meet 3 or more Criteria for Designation Highly Significant and Endangered (HSE) must meet 5 or more Criteria for Designation and is determined to be threatened by deterioration, neglect, etc. 1. Submit designation application to P&D Department 2. HCLC Review 3. Zoning Commission Review 4. City Council Review and Approval 4
Historic Districts vs. Conservation Districts District Type Difference Elements Controlled Level of Review Tax Incentives Historic District Preserves and protects the historic architecture and character of the district Regulates architectural details of individual homes Height Setbacks Architectural Design of new construction and additions Demolition Building Materials Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission Limited Staff Purview Yes Conservation District Focuses on protecting neighborhood characteristics Lacks sufficient historical, architectural or cultural significance to be designated a historic district Height Setbacks Lot Coverage Lot Size Driveways Additional elements optional Staff Review No 5
Existing Fort Worth Historic Districts Historic District Designation Date Council District Architecture Example Elizabeth Boulevard August 1980 9 1001 Elizabeth Blvd Fairmount Southside October 1990 9 1730 6 th Ave Kenwood Court November 1991 8 4321 Kenwood Ct Central Handley June 2001 5 6511 East Lancaster Ave 6
Existing Fort Worth Historic Districts Historic District Designation Date Council District Architecture Example Mistletoe Heights July 2002 9 2400 Harrison Ave Garden of Eden January 2005 4 1420 Carson St Morningside October 2006 8 1029 Marion Ave Carver Heights November 2006 5 5709 Eisenhower Dr Stop Six: Sunrise Edition May 2007 5 5163 Charlene St 7
Existing Fort Worth Historic Districts Historic District Designation Date Council District Architecture Example Hillcrest August 2007 7 2209 Tremont Ave Terrell Heights August 2007 8 1015 East Humbolt St Linden Avenue October 2012 7 4017 Linden Ave Chase Place April 2013 9 12 Chase Ct 8
Existing Fort Worth Conservation District Historic District Designation Date Council District Description Circle Park 1991 2 Median dividing Circle Park Blvd 9
Preservation and Design Team Planning Manager Randy Hutcheson Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission Historic Preservation Officer Liz Casso Urban Design Commission Senior Planner Laura Voltmann Downtown Design Review Board Senior Planner Sevanne Steiner Support Staff Assistant Planner Customer Service Representative Estella Alvarez Valentina Muñoz Indicates staff that is able to assist Historic Preservation Officer with day-today duties (as needed and as time permits) 10
Growth of Fort Worth s Historic Preservation Program 2003 2,500 designated properties 5 historic districts 1 full time planner dedicated to historic preservation 2006 4,400 designed properties 8 historic districts 2 full time planners dedicated to historic preservation 2014 7,079 designated properties 13 historic districts 1 full time planner dedicated to historic preservation 11
Improvements and Successes 1. Simplified application reduced to one page 2. Simplified public notices from letter to post card 3. Online postings Full public access to dockets; reduced costs to City 4. Promotion Provided tours for out of state developers/investors of historic properties 5. Awards Historic Fort Worth, Inc. and National Alliance of Preservation Commissions 6. Published material Alliance Review Case Study: Demolition Delay 7. Fairmount re-write Revision to Fairmount district standards and guidelines 8. File sharing Share State Historic Tax Credit project files electronically via Buzzsaw with THC 12
Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation Prompts reinvestment in surrounding properties Increases property values (5-20%) Creates jobs Attracts visitors Heritage Tourism Contributes to efficient development and energy conservation Before and After 2234 Hurley Ave Supports revitalization of central city commercial districts Discourages sprawl 13
What are the benefits of preservation in Fort Worth? Conservation Reuse of existing resources Tourism Over 5 million visitors to the Stockyards each year with each tourist spending more per day than average tourist Economic Over $32 million of investment in our historic properties in the last two years Property Values Since 1990, Fairmount has experienced more than a 250% increase in property values Taxes 25% uncapped State of Texas tax credit and freeze on local taxes Protection Helps to conserve our built heritage while also creating a predictable development landscape 14
Stop Six: Sunrise Edition Historic District Neighborhood Facts Originally known as Cowanville Rural/pastoral African American Community Stop number 6 on the Fort Worth to Dallas Interurban in the early 1900s Historic development periods: 1920-1940 and 1950-1970 Council Initiated Historic District Interurban Train Designated May 2007 15
Stop Six: Sunrise Edition Historic District Existing Conditions 43% of the district is vacant land Approximately 36% of the district is contributing Over 64% of the district is considered non-contributing 16
Stop Six: Sunrise Edition Historic District Comparison to Similar Districts Carver Heights Historic District Location Council District 5 Date Designated Size of District % Contributing 82% November 2006 892 structures 2204 Lucas Drive Morningside Historic District Location Council District 8 Date Designated Size of District % Contributing 77% October 2006 899 structures 957 E Mulkey Street 17
Service Capacity Historic Preservation Officer provides limited services: Staffing the HCLC Assisting customers with requests for new construction, renovations and demolitions Processing historic tax exemptions and individual designations Performing federal Section 106 reviews for public projects Performing AR-A10 reviews for city projects at sites 45 yrs. in age or older Preservation activities now on hold or addressed on an as needed basis: Creation of new historic districts Updating existing district standards and guidelines Updating the Historic Preservation Plan Updating the Historic Resources Survey HCLC and staff training and education Community education, outreach and communication Special design assistance for low-income applicants 18
Cost of Preservation Program Activities Activity Staffing Preservation Plan Update Historic Resources Survey Update Cost Estimate $68,000 per year/per planner $100,000 Reconnaissance Survey Comprehensive Survey $100,000 $50,000 per neighborhood (varies by size) 1980 Tarrant County Historic Resource Survey Books 19
Proposed Changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance Staff approval of demolition of noncontributing structures and secondary structures on contributing property Staff approval of new construction, additions, and exterior alterations HCLC will review the following: Demolition requests for contributing structures Historic Designation Cases Requests for waivers from district standards and guidelines Tax cases Appeals of staff decisions 3508 Cockrell Ave Approved Rear Addition of a Conservatory 20
Preservation Plan vs. Ordinance Document Purpose Preservation Plan Creates a long-term vision and a set of achievable strategies and policies for the City of Fort Worth s historic preservation program Regulates: Preservation Ordinance Historic Site Tax Exemption Program Designation of properties Architectural review Penalties Appeals 21
Next Steps Historic Preservation Ordinance Update HCLC Review December 2014 Zoning Commission Review January 2014 City Council Review February 2015 Submitted letter of intent to apply for grant funds from the THC Submitted Application for grant funds from the THC Preservation Plan Update July 2014 November 2014 22
What does one staff member get us? Ability to assist with designation of 1 large historic district a year Ability to assist with update of historic design standards for one existing historic district a year Assistance reviewing applications and preparing HCLC meeting dockets Faster turn-around on information requests Faster turn-around on investigation of complaints and review of projects for compliance with historic approval Free up capacity for design review staff currently assisting HPO 23
Preservation Plan Ideally, a preservation plan should be updated every 5 years Current FW preservation plan was adopted in 2003 o It outlined 5 areas of improvement, 13 goals and 65 individual strategies Since 2003, over 93% of the goals and strategies have been implemented 2003 Fort Worth Preservation Plan 24
Recommendations Approve upcoming changes simplifying the Historic Preservation Ordinance Consider allocating $68,000 in the City Manager s proposed FY2016 budget to fund a preservation planner position. Consider allocating $80,000 in the City Manager s proposed FY2016 budget to match potential grant funding for an update of the preservation plan Earliest known Fort Worth skyline photo c. 1885 25
Questions? Comments? 26