1. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of national, state or local history;

2. Embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics of a type, period, style, or method of design or construction, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction;

3. Is an outstanding work of a designer, builder, or architect who has made a substantial contribution to the art;

4. Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city’s cultural, special, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, or architectural history;

5. Is associated with the lives of persons significant in national, state or local history;

6. Has yielded or may be likely to yield important archaeological information related to history or prehistory;

7. Is a building or structure removed from its original location but which is significant primarily for architectural value, or which is the only surviving structure significantly associated with an historic person or event;

8. Is a birthplace or grave of an historical figure of outstanding importance and is the only surviving structure or site associated with that person;

9. Is a cemetery which derives its primary significance from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events, or cultural patterns;

10. Is a reconstructed building that has been executed in an historically accurate manner on the original site;

11. Is a creative and unique example of folk architecture and design created by persons not formally trained in the architectural or design professions, and which does not fit into formal architectural or historical categories.

1. Property owners may nominate a building, structure, site, or object for inclusion in the city register of historical properties. Members of the HPC or the HPC as a whole may generate nominations and may sponsor nominations submitted by members of the public. In its designation recommendation, the HPC shall consider the city’s historic property inventory and the city comprehensive plan, and shall recommend inclusion on the register only if the owner is willing to have his/her property included on the register.

2. In the case of individual properties, the designation shall include the tax parcel number, a full legal description of the property, references and all features, interior and exterior, and outbuildings that contribute to its designation.

3. In the case of districts, the designation shall include description of the boundaries of the district; the characteristics of the district justifying its designation; and a list of all properties including features, structures, sites, and objects contributing to the designation of the district. The HPC shall consider a simple majority of property owners within the proposed district boundary to be adequate for owner consent. The public, property owner(s) and the authors of the nomination, if different, and lessees, if any, shall be notified of the listing.

4. The HPC shall consider the merits of the nomination, according to the criteria in subsection A of this section at a public meeting. Notice shall be provided to the public and the owner(s) of the property, and the authors of the nomination, as provided in GHMC 17.98.055(C)(1). If the HPC finds that the nominated property is eligible for the city’s register of historical properties, the HPC shall make recommendation to the city council that the property be listed in the register with the owner’s consent. The city council shall make a final determination according to the criteria in subsection A of this section. The property owners and the authors of the nomination, if different, shall be notified of the listing.

5. Properties listed in the city’s register of historical properties shall be recorded on official zoning records with an “HR” (for “historic register”) designation. This designation shall not change or modify the underlying zone classification.

1. Listing on the city historical register is an honorary designation denoting significant association with the historic, archaeological, engineering, or cultural heritage of the community. Properties are listed individually.

2. Prior to the commencement of any work on a register property, excluding ordinary repair and maintenance and emergency measures defined in GHMC 17.97.020(P) and (J), the owner must request and receive a certificate of appropriateness from the HPC for the proposed work. Violation of this rule shall be grounds for the HPC to review the property for removal from the register.

3. Prior to whole or partial demolition of a register property, the owner must request and receive a waiver of a certificate of appropriateness.

4. Once the city is certified as a certified local government (CLG), all properties listed on the local register or the National Register of Historic Places may be eligible for special tax valuation on their rehabilitation (GHMC 17.97.020(T)).

5. Plaques. Owners of properties on a historic register may display a plaque to recognize the property’s listing on a specific register. (Ord. 1513 § 3 (Exh. C), 2023; Ord. 1375 § 2, 2017; Ord. 1093 § 10, 2007; Ord. 992 § 1, 2005).