Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron

Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron

Hi Cara,

Here in the City of Anaheim, we have a Citywide Historic Preservation Plan which is intended to provide guidance for owners of current and potential historic properties throughout the City. It relies on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, but breaks down the design guidelines in an easier to understand format. In this way, it is useful for a variety of architectural styles. The Plan is located on our website, at the following link: City of Anaheim Citywide Historic Preservation Plan

Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron

Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron

Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron

Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron

Hi colleagues,

We in Austin are discussing the possibility of common design standards for all designated historic properties in the city. Currently, our historic landmarks must follow the Secretary's Standards, which are clearly time-tested but can be vague for laypeople. Meanwhile, our prospective local historic districts develop their own design standards as part of the application process, which theoretically adds a nice measure of self-determination but also adds time, cost, uncertainty, and another layer of politics. (And practically speaking, the resulting standards are typically very similar to other districts.) We'd like to provide clearer guidance for current and potential historic property owners and streamline the historic district application process.

Do you know of other communities that have adopted citywide historic design standards? If so, we'd love to see what they came up with.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations and leads!

Cara Bertron