State Board of Review in Houston
FOR SECOND TIME IN FOUR MONTHS, TEXAS ADVANCES ANOTHER GARLAND AREA FOR LISTING ON PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL REGISTER
After decades of starts and stops, Garland—for the second time in four months—has had a district cleared for approval to the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.
An 11-member board of the Texas Historical Commission on Saturday, January 21, unanimously approved the nomination of the Garland Downtown Historic District to be sent to the National Parks Service for inclusion on the significant listing.
Four months ago in Alpine the same board, the State Board of Review, cleared the nomination of the Travis College Hill Historic District—Garland’s first entity ever to be recommended for the National Register. NPS final approval is expected momentarily on the nomination for the neighborhood, that has 11th Street at its heart.
The U.S. National Register represents the nation’s official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation. The listing imposes no restrictions on property owners.
The Downtown Garland district consists of 53 commercial properties, 41 of which were deemed to be “contributing” to the nomination.
Present at the Houston meeting to represent Garland were Councilmember Anita Goebel, whose District 2 includes the Downtown Garland area; Becky Beck King, managing director of strategic initiatives for the City of Garland, whose office has managed the project; Robert A. Smith, property owner in downtown Garland and past president of the Garland Downtown Business Association; 11th-Street residents Louis Moore, and Kay Moore, community activists; and Nancy McCoy, whose firm, Quimby McCoy Preservation Architecture of Dallas, was hired by the city to conduct the downtown Garland survey of historic properties in preparation for the nomination. The report was authored by Justin Curtsinger of her office and McCoy.
Yet to be determined is the ultimate outcome of whether Alston’s Antiques at 212 North 7th will be part of a revised boundary request at the May meeting of the State Board of Review. THC officials have asked McCoy’s firm to provide additional photos and other information that might substantiate the request. If the property is deemed qualifying and to have the proper “integrity” according to state guidelines, the THC could consider the amended boundary map next meeting, to be held in the Metroplex. McCoy has forwarded the request to Richard D Hargrove, representing the property. In its meeting today, two of the 12 nominations the State Board considered were boundary increase amendments.
In remarks before the review board, meeting at the Aloft Hotel in downtown Houston, Louis Moore noted that efforts began 32 years ago to try to get such a recognition for downtown Garland. “There are people who aren’t with us and people who are with us that are celebrating,” he told the review board, most of whom had been present at the previous meeting when Travis College Hill was given state clearance.
Goebel, appearing on behalf of city council, expressed the council’s wholehearted support. King read a city-council resolution, passed unanimously on January 3, standing behind the nomination. The resolution, in part, cited the tax-incentive programs that can be used as developmental tools for growth.
Property owners in a historic district are eligible for an investment tax credit amounting to 20 percent on federal income taxes as well as a 25 percent state tax credit on rehabilitation costs, amounting to 45 percent. (The Aloft Hotel, meeting site, was the former site of Houston’s Stowers Furniture store and had undergone major restoration due to tax credits that sprang from its being on the National Register, state personnel said.)
Smith stated that it had been a pleasure to work with property owners to help them understand the benefits of the designation. He said it was fulfilling “to be able to embrace history and use that to create a sense of place” in downtown Garland.
Afterward one of the state board members commended Garland for sending impressive delegations to both meetings. At the Alpine meeting, the Garland had been represented by King, Smith, Louis and Kay Moore, and Councilmember Rich Aubin of District 5.
In presenting the Garland downtown project to the State Board, Alyssa Gerszewski from the Texas Historical Commission said the downtown Garland area represents a “high level of historical and architectural significance”. She noted that the district is still functioning as a commercial area. The “period of significance” for the nomination represents downtown history between 1897 and 1967.
Other nominations from the Metroplex at the SBR, which convenes three times a year, included Fort Worth’s Masonic Temple and The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth.
Afterward McCoy expressed special gratitude to Mike Hayslip and Jerry Flook, whose review, research, and articles had aided the Quimby McCoy preparation.
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