Wildwood commission urges voluntary local listing, outlines incentives and preservation projects

The Wildwood Historic Preservation Commission described how properties become eligible for the city's local historic register and outlined incentives and ongoing preservation projects at an open house held at Wildwood City Hall.

The commission noted that properties become eligible for the Wildwood Historic Register at about 75 years of age and that local listing is voluntary, with owners required to consent before a property receives local protections, Robin Keefe, the city's historic preservation planner, said.

The register matters because local listing adds a review layer for exterior alterations and demolitions, Keefe said, including a certificate of appropriateness review when demolition or major changes are proposed. The commission framed the local listing as a partnership that can provide technical guidance and access to incentives while preserving historic character.

In explaining incentives, Joe Vunich, Wildwood director of planning and parks, said the city does not control St. Louis County property taxes; instead, the city has used zoning and subdivision incentives. Vunich described examples in which the city increased development density or granted variances to accommodate preservation, citing a past case where variances helped preserve the River Craig House.

Commission members said listing can also increase public recognition and help owners pursue grants or renovations. Keefe pointed to examples of local landmarks in Wildwood, including one-room schoolhouses, Route 66 service stations and log cabins, and said the city currently lists 14 historic landmarks.

The commission also described a set of active projects. Members summarized a long-running effort to reconstruct the Essen Log Cabin after its logs were taken in 2015 and later recovered; the commission said the logs were recently reassembled for re-erection and a summer installation at the city's new village green is possible. The commission said it is also pursuing African American heritage recognition in Wildwood's Westland Acres and is coordinating with the National Park Service on sites potentially tied to the Underground Railroad. Members highlighted Route 66 work, including possible city grant programs for Route 66 properties, wayfinding and a roadside park tied to the road's upcoming anniversary.

Commissioners announced a new, citywide historic preservation plan intended to integrate preservation across city processes and to identify assets, threats and priorities; the commission said community input gathered through the mailed survey and public events will guide that plan. Keefe encouraged property owners who received the survey to participate and said the commission is seeking volunteers and applicants to fill upcoming commissioner openings.

"Your stories are a living history," Keefe said, asking residents to share family and property histories to build the public record.

The commission emphasized that the local program is voluntary: owners retain control unless they opt into the local register and its protections. Staff and commissioners offered to meet with owners individually to explain options, incentives and the review process.

Less immediate items discussed included a city history book published in 2023 and the Wildwood Points of Interest map, which the commission said lists 20 scenic and historic driving tours.

Members urged residents with historic properties to contact planning staff for guidance on nominations, incentives and the commission's projects going forward.