What is historic preservation?
Fundamentally, the field of historic preservation has evolved as a way to protect buildings, structures and landscapes that hold meaning to a community and its heritage. Early phases of the preservation movement tended to focus on high-style buildings and those associated with powerful elites; more recently the field has encompassed many more efforts to recognize and protect sites that reflect diverse social and cultural histories.
However, many people still perceive the preservation movement as not representing their interests, particularly as discussion moves into the contentious terrain of property rights. The Detroit Landmarks and Monuments website features several of
How do I nominate a building as a historic landmark?
Anyone can prepare a landmark nomination with some general information — a building description and photo, historical information, and documentation of the building’s significance. However, there also may be people with preservation experience or knowledge (city staff, historians, students) that may be willing to assist you. Local heritage organizations can be of great support in developing nominations and advocating for them as a commission or public agency reviews them.
You may consider a nomination on the local, state, or national level. Local preservation offers the most direct protection and stewardship; the Planning Department of your local city or county will be able to tell you whether there is a historic preservation program in place. State or national designation may offer a level of significance to expedite a local nomination, and avenues for financial support such as historic tax credits or a more flexible building code.
What is significance?
The two primary tasks for developing a landmark nomination are: documenting the historic significance of a building or site, and establishing its physical integrity in relation to the “period of significance.”
Criteria for significance established by The National Register of Historic Places has become the foundation for most state and local preservation program. National Register criteria are organized into four categories to assess whether a building, structure or site:
A Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
B Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
C Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
D Has yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.
Greek Town obviously falls under the Heading of Ethnic Heritage Area of Significance already identified by the National Register. But, depending on the property, a resource may also fall under additional areas of significance such as Agriculture, Architecture, Commerce, Education, Entertainment/Recreation, Health/Medicine, Industry, Landscape Architecture, Maritime History, Performing Arts, Religion, Social History and others.
What is integrity?
To be successfully considered for landmark status, a historic resource must demonstrate physical connection to the time period of its historic significance. Integrity is evaluated according to several aspect including location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.
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