The Harlingen City Commission voted on first reading to approve a proposed historic preservation ordinance after a workshop that included staff presentations and a briefing on a THC-funded survey.

City planning staff told commissioners the ordinance is intended to give Harlingen standard tools to evaluate, designate and protect historically significant properties while not regulating interiors or land use. "Harlingen lacks a mechanism to protect historic buildings, has no oversight of demolition or major alteration, and is ineligible for state or federal preservation funding," the planner said during the workshop presentation.

Grant coordinator Francisco Martinez described a recently awarded Texas Historical Commission grant to fund a historic resources survey. "In November, the Texas Historical Commission awarded the city of Harlingen $40,000 through the Texas Preservation Trust Fund to conduct a historic resources survey," Martinez said, adding the grant will help identify properties eligible for designation and guide preservation priorities.

A Hidalgo County historical preservation representative summarized how tax credits can support rehabilitation projects, noting the federal credit is generally 20 percent and the state credit 25 percent, and that the credits can be stacked for qualifying rehabilitation expenses. The representative explained the federal credit requires an income-producing property, while the state credit includes nonprofit eligibility.

Downtown incentives and funding mechanisms that could accompany the ordinance were discussed by the Downtown Improvement District director, who reviewed options such as façade grants, tax-credit assistance, property tax abatements and preservation loans used in other Texas cities. Staff said any specific incentive programs and eligibility rules would return to the commission for formal policy adoption.

Commissioners asked how existing renovations affect eligibility, what clawbacks or compliance obligations could attach to incentives, and how local review would work. Staff said the ordinance would establish local review standards, a Historic Preservation Officer, and a Historic Preservation Council, and that detailed incentive programs would be adopted separately.

The commission approved the ordinance on first reading subject to scrivener's corrections and clarifications to enforcement cross-references; one commissioner recorded opposition citing fiscal priorities. The ordinance now moves forward for further action and eventual final reading.