Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission hears overview of Lacey Register of Historic Places and registered properties
Summary
Staff presented the Lacey Register of Historic Places ordinance, nomination and review process, and summarized each property on the local register; commissioners asked about costs and incentives for owners.
City staff presented an overview of the Lacey Register of Historic Places, described the nomination and design-review processes and summarized the properties currently on the local register.
Aaron explained that the register and inventory are governed by Lacey Municipal Code 16.53. He said anyone can nominate a property but owner consent is required for listing because the designation affects property use; the commission performs quasi-judicial review of nominations. The inventory is a separate, broader list of resources older than 50 years with potential significance.
Aaron reviewed properties on the local register, including the Bowker House (built by 1893; added 1991), Gallagher Hootie House (built by 1895; added 1992; moved from original site), Ruddell Pioneer Cemetery (established 1852; added 1992; also on state and national registers), Groom Turner House (1929), Jacob Smith House (1859; oldest residence in Lacey; on state register and under active nomination work), Huntemer House (moved to preserve it; added 1999), Lacey Women’s Club (built 1937), Russell House (built 1928; added 2001), Taylor House (Hicks Lake waterfront Tudor-style house), Hohman House (built 1940; nominated 2011), and Jensen House (built 1928; added 2011). Aaron also noted several properties in the city urban growth area that are on the Thurston County register and that could be added to the Lacey register if city boundaries change.
Commissioners asked about the cost and staffing implications of nomination and evaluation. Aaron said outside contractor work for evaluations — a cultural-resources or nomination survey — has recently cost between $7,000 and $10,000 for a three-property effort. He said the state and national register process can differ (for example, the Jacob Smith nomination was declined for the National Register while the state added it) and that tax-incentive rehabilitation programs exist but require comprehensive pre-planning and documentation; only one owner had completed that process in the city.
Aaron said the commission also reviews proposed changes in use or design for registered properties (beyond routine maintenance) and that staff will screen permit requests; design review seeks to balance owner needs and preservation of historic integrity. He told commissioners he will bring a mapped inventory of candidate properties at a future meeting and that staff are updating the museum website to include nomination forms, staff reports and an online list of register properties.
Paul Webb, trustee on the commission, and other commissioners added updates about local preservation projects and the group's outreach work; staff noted the commission’s recent involvement with the RAC kiosk project and cultural-resources reporting for depot planning.
