"Among the first lessons the preservationist learns
is that the legal power to protect historic places lies chiefly with local
government. This is a lesson often learned the hard way, for many people
assume that the federal government, being the 'highest' level of government,
is the strongest guardian of historic sites. This, unfortunately, is not
the case
"
Constance E. Beaumont, from A Citizen's Guide to
Protecting Historic Places: Local Preservation Ordinances, 1992. National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
Here's what one State says about how National Register
listing and local designations can work together effectively in communities:
Preservation Hotline #2:
National Register listing/Local designation
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
State Historic Preservation Office
Communities across South Carolina are using National Register listing
and local designation to help preserve their historic properties. Both
designations recognize and encourage the protection of historic properties,
but they are quite different. They are complementary programs that can
work effectively either independently or together to meet the historic
preservation needs of a community.
National Register Listing
The National Register is the nation's official list of historic, architectural,
and archaeological resources worthy of preservation. South Carolina has
about 1,200 listings in the National Register, both individual properties
and historic districts.
Authority and Administration:
In 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act created the National
Register and established federal listing criteria. Each state and territory
has a State Historic Preservation Officer who identifies eligible properties
and, in conjunction with a State Board of Review, submits nominations
to the Keeper of the National Register at the United States Department
of the Interior.
Protection: Properties listed in
the National Register are eligible for preservation tax credits and preservation
grants, and they receive some protection from the potential adverse effects
of federal projects (funded, licensed, or approved) or projects requiring
certain State certifications or permits. National Register properties
that are owned or leased by the State also receive some protection.
Local Designation
Local governments can adopt a historic preservation-zoning ordinance,
which enables them to designate properties of historical or architectural
significance. Usually, the local governing body, guided by the recommendations
of its planning, zoning, and historic preservation commissions, chooses
the properties. Some thirty cities, towns, and counties in South Carolina
have designated local historic districts and individual landmarks by adopting
this kind of ordinance
Authority and Administration:
South Carolina cities, towns, and counties can enact zoning laws that
provide for "the preservation and protection of historic and architecturally
valuable districts and neighborhoods" under South Carolina law S6-29-870.
Historic preservation zoning stresses building appearance rather than
use.
Protection: A historic preservation
zoning ordinance can establish a board of citizensoften called a
historic preservation commission, design review commission, town appearance
committee, board of architectural review, or historic district commission—to
review proposed changes to locally designated historic properties. The
ordinance protects historic properties by requiring board approval before
property owners can build, demolish, or make alterations within designated
areas.
---------------------------------
HOME
|