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Decatur staff seek National Register boundary changes, extend period of significance to 1979
Summary
A consultant presented a draft amendment to the National Register nomination for New Decatur/Albany that would reduce the district by about 3.3 acres, add roughly 30 acres, extend the period of significance to 1979 and update contributing status for 85 resources; the draft is now with the State Historic Preservation Office for review.
Jamie, a consultant with EFC, presented a draft amendment to the National Register nomination for the commercial district historically known as New Decatur (later Albany), saying the nomination includes a boundary decrease of “approximately 3.3 acres” and an increase of about 30 acres to encompass post–World War II development.
The amendment would extend the district’s period of significance to 1941–1979, update the resource inventory and adjust contributing status to reflect demolitions and later construction. As amended, Jamie said, the nomination lists 85 resources, 64 of which are contributing and 21 noncontributing; nine resources from the original nomination were removed because they were demolished.
Why it matters: the amendment would formally recognize mid-20th-century commercial growth that occurred east and south of Second Avenue and document surviving buildings from the 1880s through the 1970s. Jamie told the commission the draft is currently “with the State Historic Preservation Office, undergoing review,” and staff expect the item to appear on the state board docket in September.
Key details from the presentation:
- Boundary changes: a roughly 3.3-acre boundary decrease was proposed where large-scale infill and demolition removed historic fabric; a roughly 30-acre increase would add blocks on First and Fourth avenues and cross streets including Grant, Johnston and Moulton between Second and Fourth avenues.
- Period of significance and resources: the period would extend to 1979 to capture post–World War II development; the nomination inventory would total 85 resources (64 contributing, 21 noncontributing) after removing nine demolished buildings and adding about 40 resources in the increase area.
- Architectural character: presenter materials highlighted 19th- and early-20th-century commercial blocks along Second Avenue and a wave of mid‑century modern and international‑style commercial and bank buildings in the boundary increase area; examples discussed include former auto and retail buildings, mid‑century banks and three historic churches.
- The Princess Theater: the draft proposes removing the Princess Theater from the district’s boundary decrease area so it can be individually listed on the National Register rather than remain as an isolated contributing resource within a noncontributing context.
Caroline (historic preservation staff) and Jamie discussed the effect of later construction on district design and why newer buildings typically are treated as noncontributing when they are under 50 years old. Jamie said the nomination updates several earlier errors, including revised construction dates and corporate names for the opera house/theater building in the nomination record.
Next steps: staff said the nomination will remain under state review and return to the commission for further comment before it goes to the full state board. Jamie and staff asked commissioners to review the draft and noted the state review schedule would determine final local timelines.
Ending: Commission members asked a few clarifying questions about specific parcels and whether recently built hotels and parking garages fall inside the proposed boundary; staff said those modern structures are mostly in the decrease area and that the nomination is intended to draw the boundary around surviving historic resources.
