HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9624 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9624
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 4, 2014
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SUBJECT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM
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The purpose of this report is to provide an update on issues raised during the January 28, 2014, joint City
Council and Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission (HCLC) meeting.
Background
In 2003, the City of Fort Worth in partnership with local business and civic leaders completed its first
Historic Preservation Plan. Creation and implementation of the plan generated strong interest from the
community to designate districts and individual structures. As a result, the preservation program grew from
approximately 2,500 designated properties and five (5) districts in 2003 to 4,400 designated properties
and eight (8) districts in 2006. As a result of the growth, the City hired a full-time preservation planner in
2006 to assist the Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) to implement the plan and assist customers. In
2014, the preservation program has grown to over 7,000 properties and 13 districts. Given budget cuts in
the past five years, only one full-time person is now assigned to administer the program.
Service Capacity
The HPO currently provides limited services: staffing the HCLC; assisting customers with new
construction, renovations, and demolitions; processing historic site tax exemptions; and performing federal
Section 106 reviews for public projects. The following preservation activities once performed by staff are
now either on hold or addressed on an as needed basis:
• Creation of new historic districts
• Updating existing district standards and guidelines
• Updating the Historic Preservation Plan
• Updating the Historic Resources Survey
• HCLC and staff training and education
• Community education, outreach and communication
• Special design assistance for low-income applicants
Cost of Preservation Program Activities
Staffing:
In order to provide all of the services now on hold, two preservation planners would be needed. At least
one preservation planner would be needed to initiate any one of the activities below.
Planner Cost: $ 68,000 per year/per planner
Historic Preservation Plan Update:
The City of Fort Worth Historic Preservation Plan was adopted by City Council in 2003. The cost was
$160,000 and was funded by the City and numerous organizations such as the Amon G. Carter
Foundation, the Sid Richardson Foundation, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., and the Fort Worth Chapter of
the American Institute of Architects. Through this process, local business and civic leaders reached
consensus on five (5) areas of improvement, 13 goals and 65 objectives. Since 2003, staff and the
preservation community have actively participated in addressing over 90% of the goals and objectives.
Plan Update Cost: $100,000 (estimate)
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9624
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 4, 2014
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SUBJECT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM
Historic Resources Survey Update:
Performing an ongoing update of the historic resources survey is one of the five (5) areas of improvement
in the 2003 Historic Preservation Plan. The survey was partially updated (-10%) by a consultant in 2008-
09. Budget limits prevented the completion of subsequent phases for remaining historically significant
areas of Fort Worth. A reconnaissance (windshield) survey for potentially eligible neighborhoods is needed
to establish a baseline of existing historic resources.
Reconnaissance Survey Cost: $100,000 (estimate)
Comprehensive Survey Cost: $ 50,000 per neighborhood (varies by size)
Revolving Loan Fund:
Research indicates that the vast majority of preservation-related revolving loan funds are operated by the
nonprofit sector and not City government. Typically, City governments provide seed money to nonprofits to
leverage private funds. In order for an interested preservation group to start a sustainable loan program, it
would require an annual loan fund operating budget of approximately $500,000.
If you have any questions, please call Randle Harwood, Director of Planning and Development, at
817-392-6101.
Tom Higgins
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS