Preservation efforts on rise among historical sites

Springfield is enjoying a renewed interest in historical properties. In light of related preservation efforts throughout the Queen City's growing number of identified historic sites and districts, the Landmarks Board is grateful to the Business Journal for allowing it a forum for quarterly observations on these worthwhile efforts.

From these pages the board will seek to encourage community interest in what is historically significant from our past by providing relevant information and answering questions about historic preservation.

The first permanent structures in what would become Springfield were raised in 1830.

It is unlikely, however, that John Polk Campbell, William Fulbright or any other early community builders had much time to reflect on the historical significance of what they had started. Those who followed would be equally busy building their new lives.

Over the next 140 years, an increasing number of homes and businesses were constructed, often replacing earlier structures.

With the passage of time, the urban landscape became a memorable element of Springfieldians' perception of life in their community.

Ever larger structures and new architectural styles added to Springfield's distinctive urban images. Still, it would take the Bicentennial in 1976 to spur citizens to take the first steps to preserve what was left of Springfield's architectural heritage.

Historic preservation became a citywide concern amid the exciting activities of the Bicentennial.

Both the local and the national historic registers were instituted, the Day House was recognized as Springfield's first historic site, and the Historical Site Board was established to oversee it and the historic sites to follow.

Three years later, the Commercial Street Historic District was created, along with its associated body, the Historic District Review Board. These boards were joined in 1994, creating the current Landmarks Board.

In conjunction with the Department of Planning and Development, the board oversees historic sites and urban districts, advises the City Council and the public on preservation issues, and encourages the designation of new sites and districts.

The Landmarks Board's nine members, each a property owner, all work and live in Springfield. The board meets every other Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the City Council chambers in the old City Hall.

Much of what the board does is consider Certificates of Appropriateness, or applications, by which property owners seek permission to make exterior architectural changes, either in design and/or material, to one of Springfield's more than 157 local or national historic structures.

The board's decisions in these matters are based on Department of the Interior guidelines. Working closely with architects, contractors and property owners, the board has approved more than 90 percent of these applications over the past three years.

Now is an opportune time to restore historic structures because of the generous tax credits available from both the state and the federal governments. Further, such efforts generally result in enhanced property values.

Those with questions about preservation activities and/or other board-related matters can contact the board through the city Planning and Development Department at 864-1611.

Once again, the Landmarks Board is about linking what is historically significant within our community with the present.

In keeping with this, the board recently was privileged to become involved in preliminary efforts to remodel Central High School.

But more on this in March, when we consider the benefits of joining the best from Central's past with the new.

(Kenneth Elkins is vice chairman and historian representative for the Landmarks Board.)