Mount Air Acres added to National Register; staff outline next nominations and local listings

City staff told the Millcreek City Historic Preservation Commission on April 10 that the Mount Air Acres neighborhood has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and that standard notification requirements were completed.

Steph, a city staff member, said she worked with the State Historic Preservation Office to send required notices to neighborhood property owners; the designation will also be noted in the commission newsletter. She said the commission had previously approved work to compile a mock-up sign that would identify newly listed historic districts using the Mill Creek Historic Preservation logo.

Staff said consultant Kirk Hovicker has been retained to prepare a National Register nomination for the Veteran Heights neighborhood and an owner-consented nomination for the Iceberg Drive-in. Separately, staff reported that the Baldwin radio factory was approved for listing on the city’s local register by the city council; the local listing will take effect May 19 when related zoning-code updates become effective.

Staff described an instance in which historical research produced a 1958 high-resolution photograph that helped code enforcement determine that a driveway in question had been legal in 1958, resolving an interdepartmental dispute about historical evidence. Commissioners discussed newsletter copy and outreach for the Mount Air listing and preliminary event staffing for an August event.

Commissioners also discussed participating in the July Fourth parade to raise commission visibility; staff volunteered to pursue vehicles and finalize logistics. Several commissioners offered to follow up on parade vehicles, signage and staffing. Staff indicated they would circulate draft subcommittee organization and a template sign for monuments and district signage.