What is a local historic district/landmark?
A local historic district is an area consisting of contiguous properties and a local historic landmark is an individual property, both are designated by City ordinance for being historically significant. Any exterior changes to these properties requires historic preservation review.
Cedar Rapids has two local historic districts: 2nd & 3rd Avenue Historic District and Redmond Park - Grande Avenue Historic District.
Cedar Rapids has seven local historic landmarks: The Ausadie Building (845 1st Avenue SE), Iowa Wind Mill and Pump Company Office and Warehouse (42 7th Avenue SW), Cedar Rapids Milk Condensing Company (525 Valor Way SW), Grace Episcopal Church (525 A Avenue NE), the Perkins House (1228 3rd Avenue SE), the Witwer Grocery Company Building (905 3rd Street SE), and the Central Park Presbyterian Church (1700 B Avenue NE).
Benefits of designating a historic district or landmark:
- Protection against demolition and inappropriate property treatments, regardless of ownership
- Eligible for grant funding for exterior rehabilitation projects through the Historic Rehabilitation Program
- City recognition of property owners' efforts towards preservation of historic resources
- Fill out the district or landmark application (below). Supporting materials should include:
- A narrative and justification describing how the proposed district or landmark is historically significant as defined by Chapter 18 of the City Municipal Code.
- A map indicating the exact boundaries of the proposed district or location of the proposed landmark.
- An inventory of the buildings, structures or historically important sites located within the boundary of the proposed district or landmark.
- A listing of the owners of all the property located within the proposed district or landmark.
- Petition requesting the designation of a local historic district/landmark. For a district, the petition must be signed by at least 60 percent of the total number of parcels of real estate within the district. For a landmark, the petition must be signed by all of the property owners. Either petition must include language informing property owners that Chapter 18 and the Historic Preservation Design Guidelines are applicable to all local districts/landmarks and that most exterior changes will require a Certificate as defined in Chapter 18.
- Once the application has been filed with the Community Development Department, it will be forwarded to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) for review and recommendation.
- If recommended by HPC, the application will be forwarded to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for review and recommendation.
- If recommended by SHPO, the application will be forwarded to the City Planning Commission for review and recommendation to City Council.
- If recommended by City Planning Commission, the City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance that would establish a local historic district or local landmark. If the City Council approves, the local historic district/landmark would be established.
LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT APPLICATION
LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK APPLICATION
