HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION

A historic district is established by a local ordinance under the City Council’s authority. Either the Historic Preservation Commission based on its survey, or property owners based on the criteria set forth in the municipal code may initiate a historic district.

If property owners initiate the process, an application is required. This application should include a petition with at least two-thirds of all the property owners within the proposed district’s boundaries. The application also needs to include a statement documenting the conditions of the neighborhood within the proposed district, as well as, the purposes and intent of this designation.

Once the Historic Preservation Commission holds the public hearing and approves the district, a map will be submitted to the City Council. The Commission may decide to place one or more of the buildings or structures under interim protection. Once under interim protection, notice will be given to the property owner(s) of the historic site(s). A building or structure is under interim protection until the map is submitted to and approved through an ordinance or rejected by the City Council.

Once a local district has been created it will not be automatically put on the National Register of Historic Places and those sites on the National Register will not automatically be designated as local historic districts.

The City of Valparaiso currently has one (1) historic district, the McCallum House (shown above left).