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COMMONWEALTH
of VIRGINIA
Department of Historic Resources
2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221
National Register of Historic Places
Established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966,
the national historic preservation program is a partnership between
the Federal, State, Tribal and local governments; private organizations;
and the public. The Act and its provisions establish the framework
within which citizen’s plan, identify, evaluate, register,
and protect significant historic and archeological properties throughout
the country. Central to this framework is the National Register
of Historic Places--the Nation's official list of cultural resources
worthy of preservation, administered by the National Park Service
(NPS), Department of the Interior. Properties listed in the Register
include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that
are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering,
and culture.
Historic places are nominated to the National Register by nominating
authorities: the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), appointed
by the Governor of the State in which the property is located, the
Federal Preservation Officer (FPO) for properties under Federal
ownership or control, or by the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
(THPO) if the property is on tribal lands. Anyone can prepare a
nomination to the National Register, at which time the SHPO, FPO
or THPO reviews the proposed nomination, and notifies property owners
and local officials of the intent to nominate. Nominations submitted
through the States must first be approved by a State Review Board
appointed by the Governor before being reviewed by the NPS.
The National Register of Historic Places continues to reflect the
desire of Americans, as expressed in the National Historic Preservation
Act, that “the historical and cultural foundation of the nation
should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development
in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people.”
Virginia Landmarks Register
Also in 1966, the Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia
Landmarks Commission, now the Department of Historic Resources (DHR).
DHR is the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) responsible
for managing by the Virginia Landmarks Register, the state’s
official list of properties important to Virginia’s history.
The Historic Resources Board (HRB) is responsible for listing properties
to the Virginia Landmarks Register just as the State Review Board
recommends properties to the National Register. The members of the
SRB are appointed by the SHPO and use the same criteria as the National
Register to evaluate properties. The same register form is also
used for both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register
of Historic Places.
Nearly 2300 resources are listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register.
This number does not include the tens of thousands of properties
within each listed historic district.
Key Points about the National and State Register Process
for Property Owners
• Listing in the National and State Registers honors the property
by recognizing its importance to its community, State, or the Nation.
• The Federal or State historic property designations do not
place restrictions on private property owners.
• Under Federal and State law, private property owners can
do anything they wish with their National Register-listed property,
provided that no Federal or State license, permit, or funding is
involved.
• If a listed property is destroyed, it is removed from the
register.
• Owners have no obligation to open their properties to the
public, to restore them, or even to maintain them, if they choose
not to do so.
• To ensure public participation in the nomination process,
property owners and local officials are notified of proposed nominations
to the National Register and provided the opportunity to comment.
In addition, once a nomination is submitted to the National Park
Service another public comment period is published in the Federal
Register.
• Private property owners may object to the proposed nomination
of their property to the National Register. If a majority of private
property owners object to a nomination, then the property cannot
be listed in the National Register.
• Federal agencies whose projects affect a listed property
must give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity
to comment on the project and its effects on the property.
• Owners of listed properties may be able to obtain Federal
historic preservation funding, when funds are available. In addition,
Federal investment tax credits for rehabilitation and other provisions
may apply.
Results
of Federal and State Listing
Historic Districts and individually listed properties receive a
certificate from DHR in recognition of their listing. An attractive
official plaque may also be purchased by the owner. Owners of recognized
historic properties are also eligible for the Virginia Preservation
Easement Program, as well as technical assistance from the staff
of DHR. Professional architects, architectural historians, and archaeologists
are available to provide technical guidance in the care and maintenance
of buildings and sites.
Localities may have laws to encourage the preservation of their
historic places. Some local governments have enacted their own identification
procedures; some use listing in the National and Virginia Registers
as an indicator of historic significance. State and local historic
preservation programs often provide some protection against the
possible harmful effects of State funded, licensed, or assisted
projects. Some provide limited financial assistance to owners in
the form of grants, loans, or tax benefits. They may establish other
protections for preservation purposes. Programs differ from State
to State, and within States; your SHPO or local planning department
can provide more information.
Owners of properties listed in the National Register may be eligible
for a 20% investment tax credit for the certified rehabilitation
of income-producing certified historic structures such as commercial,
industrial, or rental residential buildings. Owners of properties
listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register may be eligible for a
25% investment tax credit for the certified rehabilitation of income-producing
and non-income producing certified historic structures such as commercial,
industrial, or rental or non-rental residential buildings. Owners
who list a building(s) on both Federal and State lists may pursue
both types of investment tax credits.
In addition to honorific recognition, listing in the National Register
results in the following consideration in planning for Federal,
federally licensed, and federally assisted projects. Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires that
Federal agencies allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
an opportunity to comment on all projects affecting historic properties
either listed in or determined eligible for listing in the National
Register. The Advisory Council oversees and ensures the consideration
of historic properties in the Federal planning process. Buildings
listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register may be considered as part
of a state-funded project.
Rights of Owners to Comment and/or Object to Listing
The National Preservation Act of 1966, as amended through 1992,
states that before a property or district may be included on the
National Register or designated as a National Historic Landmark,
the owner or owners of such property, or a majority of the owners
of the properties within the district in the case of an historic
district, shall be given the opportunity (including a reasonable
period of time) to concur in, or object to, the nomination of the
property or district for such inclusion or designation. If an owner
or owners of a proposed individual listing or a majority of the
owners of properties within a proposed district, object to inclusion
or designation, the property shall not be included on the National
Register or designated as a National Historic Landmark until such
objection is withdrawn. The same rule applies to Virginia Landmarks
designation (supported by the Code of Virginia).
Each owner or partial owner has one vote regardless of the portion
of the property they may own or how many parcels they own within
an historic district. Any comments or objections should be sent
to the State Historic Preservation Officer at the Department of
Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221
prior to the scheduled Board meeting listed in the notification
letter. Notices of objection must be notarized prior to submission
to the SHPO.
Letters of support or objection will be copied to the Historic Resources
Board and State Review Board members for review along with the nomination
to which they refer. These letters will also be forwarded to the
National Park Service upon their review of the nomination.
List of web sites with further and more detailed information
www.cr.nps.gov/ (National Park Service main website)
www.cr.nps.gov/NR/about.htm (about the National Register)
www.cr.nps.gov/NR/listing.htm (listing on the National Register)
www.cr.nps.gov/NR/results.htm (results of listing on the National
Register)
www.cr.nps.gov/NR/owners.htm (owner information)
www.cr.nps.gov/local-law/nhpa1966.htm (National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966)
www.dhr.virginia.gov (Department of Historic Resources main website)
www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register.htm (national and state
register information)
www2.cr.nps.gov/ (Heritage Preservation Services)
www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/tax/index.htm (about tax credit program)
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